\ 


^  LIBRARY  "* 

OF  THE 

University  of  California.  ^ 

GIFT  OF 

GEORGE  MOREY  RICHARDSON. 


Received,  August,  1898, 
Accession  l^o//3._2^3..(p     Class  No, 


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PUBLISHERS'  PREFACE. 


nnHE  EoYAL  Road  to  Happiness,  or  The  Picture 
Preacher,  is  so  called  because  it  is  designed,  by 
the  use  of  pictures,  to  instruct  in  the  wise  conduct  of 
human  life,  so  that  its  readers  may  journey  in  the  Eoyal 
Road  to  Happiness,  both  here  and  hereafter. 

The  engravings  have  original  peculiarities.  Upon 
each  is  a  printed  sentence,  presenting  some  moral  truth 
or  valuable  lesson,  while  below  each  are  Bible  quota- 
tions. Thus  the  various  articles  and  fables  of  the  book, 
inclusive  of  the  fables  of  ^sop,  are  all  given  extraordi- 
nary power  by  being  fortified  with  the  weighty,  pun- 
gent words  of  Divine  inspiration. 

The  object  of  Mr.  Barber  in  these  engravings  is  not 
to  make  pretty  pictures,  but  to  enforce  moral  truth. 
Everything  is  made,  with  studied  simplicity,  to  bend  to 


4  PUBLISHERS     PREFACE. 

this  purpose.  Hence  they  have  a  peculiar  power.  They 
attract  by  their  originality,  and  often  create  a  smile  by 
their  quaintness.  But  they  are  so  bold,  so  strong,  as  to 
tell  their  story  at  a  single  glance.  Thus  they  impress  a 
lesson  where  elegance  and  delicacy  alone  would  fail. 

Merely  beautiful  pictures  would  be  weak  to  impress, 
and  could  not  so  well  answer  the  purpose  of  instruction 
as  do  these  bold,  simple,  diagram-like  cuts,  many  of 
which,  with  the  moral  they  so  vividly  enforce,  will  remain 
in  the  memory  from  youth  to  old  age,  as  living  truth  to 
guide  the  life. 

This  work  was  begun  nearly  twenty  years  before  its 
publication.  With  scarcely  an  exception  the  engravings 
were  all  made  expressly  for  it.  Thus,  although  new  and 
never  before  used,  they  are  in  the  old  style,  and  neces- 
sarily so,  as  they  were  mostly  designed  and  engraved  by 
the  hand  of  one  who  learned  his  art  in  the  early  part 
of  this  century,  when  the  population  of  our  country  was 
mainly  confined  to  a  mere  fringe  on  the  Atlantic  coast. 

It  will  surprise  many  to  learn  that  instead  of  box- 
wood, that  Turkish  product  which  is  the  ordinary 
material  of  wood  engravers,  about  one-third  of  these 
illustrations  were  engraved  directly  on  type  metal,  a 


publishers'  preface.  6 

material  upon  which  few,  if  any,  other  engravers  could 
so  work.  The  pictures,  "  The  Lion  and  the  Mouse," 
"  The  Hare  and  the  Tortoise,"  "  The  Monkey  and  the 
Cat,"  and  "The  Young  Man  and  the  Swallow,"  are 
illustrations  of  this  style. 

This  book  will  probably  remain  the  last  work  of 
moment  by  Mr.  Barber.  Owing  to  his  advanced  years 
he  cannot  be  expected  to  dwell  amid  these  scenes  much 
longer.  But  he  will  leave,  in  the  books  he  has  made,  a 
legacy  of  enduring  value  to  the  people  and  their  children, 
to  attest  that  he  has  not  lived  in  vain.  All  this  is  in 
accordance  with  a  prophetic  utterance  made  in  regard  to 
him  when  he  was  in  the  cradle — in  those  days  of  simple 
beliefs  and  strong  faiths — ^that  he  would  grow  up  to  be 
an  author  whose  works  would  be  a  benefit  to  mankind. 


CONTEIsrTS 


Subjects  illustrating  and  instructing  in  the  Ways  op 
Man  in  the  Social  Relations  of  Common  Life. 

[These  articles  occupy  about  three-fourths  of  the  re-idlng  matter  of  the  book :  the  Able*  the 

remaining  fourth.] 


Page. 

Biographical  Sketch. _ 13 

Introduction 29 

Benefits  of  Childhood 43 

Job  and  his  Three  Friends 49 

Moses  the  Law  Giver 52 

Gambling  according  to  Law 57 

Vulgarity. 65 

Elevation  of  Woman  by  Christianity    67 
Vanity  a  part  of  Hiuman  Nature  _.     76 

"Womanhood 79 

Tyranny  of  Fashion 88 

"Woman's  Devotion __     93 

Knowing  how  to  use  Money 110 

"Wisdom  and  Cunning 116 

Contentment 119 

Greedy  Ambition  after  "Wealth 129 

General  Diffusion  of  Knowledge  __  132 

The  Force  of  Truth 136 

Promise  Breaking  .. . 140 

Self -ignorance  and  Self -adulation..  143 

foolish  Domestic  Quarrels 146 

Hasty  or  Passionate  Anger. _  1 54 

Happiness  in  Marriage 157 

Industry  a  Moral  Duty 163 

Self-inflicted  Torture 167 

Christian  Honesty _.  180 

Children  learning  Self-help 185 

Scornful  Pride 187 

Leammgtosay  "Nol" 193 

Family  Government 196 

Yield  a  Little  in  Small  Matters  ...  199 

The  Beggar's  Funeral 203 

Debt,  or  the  Overloaded  Mule 205 

Prudence  in  Common  Life „.  206 


P«ire. 

Virtuous  Poverty 212 

Saying  too  Much 214 

Tax  on  Worldly  Greatness 219 

Content  and  Discontent 223 

The  Unknown  God 227 

Horseman  and  Ungovernable  Steed  232 

Martin  Luther  and  his  Wife 231 

Independence 234 

Petty  Scandal  or  Backbiting 237 

Earth  and  her  Children 240 

Miseries  of  High  Life 245 

Solomon  the  King _ 249 

Little  Things  in  Social  Life 254 

Learning  Children  to  Lie 259 

David,  King  of  Israel 261 

St.  Paul's  Pathway 266 

Paul,  Silas  and  the  Jailor 270 

Force  of  Predjudice 274 

Early  Desire  for  Power ^  278 

Absalom.the  Villainous  Office  Seeker  282 

Infidel  and  the  Orphans 286 

Principle  of  Shame 289 

Prayer  Remarkably  Answered 294 

Enemy  turned  into  a  Friend 295 

Christianity  Revealed  by  Signs 297 

Comment  on  an  Ancient  Allegory.  300 

The  Three  Scoffers 303 

Condescension -.-  304 

The  Speaking  Paper 306 

Moral  Use  of  the  Pillow 308 

SummaryCharacteristics  of  Mankind  311 

Filial  Piety 315 

Anxious  Father  and  Absent  Boy..  321 
Winning  the  Attention  of  Children  324 
7 


8 


CONTENTS. 


Page. 

Meddlers  and  Busy  Bodies  ... 327 

Going  Just  Right  or  a  Little  Wrong  329 
Limits  to  the  Pleasures  of  Sense  __  334 

Gresham  and  the  Grasshopper 335 

Our  Neighbors _ 340 

Evil  Thinking 346 

Cruelty  to  Animals 353 

Extremes  of  Suspicion  and  Confi- 
dence  363 

The  Conscientious  Thief 364 

Religion 368 

Wrath  Quieted  before  Sunset 373 

Presumption _ 374 

Devotee  to  Pleasure. _ _.  385 

Self  Help 389 

Perils  of  Youth 396 

Banqueting  upon  Borrowing. 402 

Manner  of  Giving  Reproof _  405 

Boy  Reproving  his  Mistress 408 

The  Schoolmaster  and  Young  Lady 
Scholar 409 


Page, 

Spiritual  and  Material  Heart 411 

Law  and  Follies  of  Litigation 427 

Frivolity  of  Character _  482 

Memory,  its  Use  and  Abuse 435 

Look  Aloft _ 440 

Necessity  of  Precaution 457 

Truth  and  Courage 460 

The  Soul  of  Man 470 

Saint  John  and  the  Robber 473 

Marriage  among  the  Ancient  Ro- 
mans and  Early  Americans...  481 

Fraternal  Friendship 485 

Damon  and  Pythias ._  485 

Fretfulness  and  Despondency 488 

Idlers  Yagrant  Tramps 491 

Reverses  in  Worldly  Matters  ..   ._  494 

Man's  Loneliness _.  498 

Direful  Effects  of  Gambling 505 

Peace 507 


FABLES 


Page. 

Ape  and  Cubs 96 

Ape  and  Litigious  Cats .._  243 

Ape,  Wolf  and  Fox 465 

Ass,  Old  Man  and  Son 358 

Bald  Knight 288 

Bear  and  Hermit 391 

Bear  and  Two  Travelers 258 

Bear,  Hen  and  Chickens 343 

Bear,  Lion,  Ape  and  Fox 469 

Bees,  the  two ._  121 

Boasting  Traveler ._ 91 

Boy  that  stole  apples 415 

Cats,  Litigious,  and  Ape 243 

Collier  and  Fuller 74 

Country  Maid  and  her  Milk 357 

Covetous  Man  and  his  Treasure. . .318 

Crow  and  Pitcher 126 

Cur,  Treacherous 384 

Doe.  one-eyed 338 

Dog  and  Passionate  Man 154 


Page. 

Dog  and  Shadow 40 

Dog  and  Thief 292 

Dog  in  the  Manger 362 

Dog  invited  to  Supper 425 

Dogs,  Two 167 

Dog,  Treacherous 384 

Dog,  the  Mischievous 475 

Dove  and  the  Ant 454 

Farmer  and  his  Sons 423 

Fir  Tree  and  Bramble 75 

Fish,  Flying 210 

Fishing  in  Muddy  Waters 337 

Fox  and  Ass  . _  79 

Fox  and  Bear 48 

Fox  and  Crow 380 

Fox  and  Eagle 418 

Fox  and  Leopard 108 

Fox  and  Stork 174 

Fox  and  Sick  Lion 191 

Fox  and  Sour  Grapes 339 


CONTENTS. 


9 


Pajfe. 

Fox  and  "Wood-cutter. .  ._ _.  446 

Fox  in  tho  Well 152 

Fox,  Wolf  and  Ape 465 

Frogs  desire  a  King 444 

Frogs,  two 176 

Greediness  overreaches  itself 121 

Handsome  Brother  and  Sister  _  ..  311 

Hare  and  Tortoise 450 

Hares  and  Frogs 113 

Hawk,  Pigeon  and  Farmer 92 

Horse  and  Loaded  Mule __  448 

Hound,  the  old 463 

Hunter  and  Woodman 49 

Jackdaw,  the  Yain 479 

Judge,  the  Partial,  and  Farmer 430 

Kite  and  Pigeon 46 

Lark  and  her  young _  149 

Lion  and  Forester _ 315 

Lion  and  Four  Bulls 371 

Lion  and  Fox 96 

Lion  and  Mouse _ 39 

Lion  and  other  Beasts  __ 84 

Lion  and  Young  Man 86 

Lion,  Bear  and  Fox 62 

Lion,  Bear,  Ape  and  Fox 469 

Lion.  Judicious 71 


Page. 

Lion,  Old,  and  Ass.. 353 

Lion,  Sick,  Wolf  and  Fox 298 

Master  and  Scholar 399 

Matron  and  her  Maids 456 

Mice  in  Council... 503 

Monkey  and  two  Litigious  Cats 243 

Monkey,  Cat  and  Chestnuts 100 

Oak  and  Reed 395 

Old  Man  and  his  Sons 422 

Porcupine  and  Snakes _.     7  2 

Shepherd  turned  Merchant _  124 

Spendthrift  and  the  Swallow 466 

Thief  and  Boy 94 

Traveler  and  lost  Money  Bag 177 

Two  Dishonest  Men  and  Cook 225 

Two  Pots 106 

Wagoner  and  Hercules 476 

Wind  and  Sun.. 103 

Wolf  and  Crane 184 

Wolf  and  Kid 105 

Wolf  and  Lamb 170 

Wolf  and  Shepherd  Boy 82 

Wolf,  Ape  and  Fox 465 

Wolf  in  disguise... 161 

Wolf  in  Sheep's  Clothing 378 


LIST  OF  ENGRAVINGS 

(with  the  moral  each  illustrates.) 


P&R6 

Childhood,  (Steel.) Frontispiece. 

Birth  Place  of  J.  W.  Barber 16 

Lion  and  Mouse  _ Mefixy  obtains  mercy.    40 

Dog  and^his  Shadow. Grasp  for  too  much  and  lose  all.    42 

Job  and  "his  three  Friends. 

God  the  only  sure  friend  of  the  virtuous  when  in  trouble.     50 

Moses The  great  events  in  Hoses'  history  in  one  view.     53 

Lottery  Drawing  ._ Shows  this  made  of  gambling.     59 

Lion,  Bear  and  Fox. 

The  quarrels  of  the  powerful,  the  opportunities  of  the  crafty.     63 

Porcupine  and  Snakes Be  careful  whom  you  take  to  your  hearts  and  homes.     73 

Vanity Vanity  a  part  of  human  nature.     77 

Shepherd  Boy  and  "Wolf A  liar  not  believed  though  he  speaks  the  truth.     8  J 

Lion  and  other  Beasts  — Alliance  with  the  powerful,  dangerous.     85 

Tricky  Boy  and  the  Thief The  wicked  want  the  other  wicked  punished.    95 

Ape  and  her  Cubs Excessive  parental  indulgence,  destructive.     97 

Fox  and  Lion Acquaintance  softens  prejudice.     99 

Monkey,  Cat  and  Chestnuts Intense  selfishness,  cruel.  101 

Wind  and  Sun Kindness  conquers.  104 

Two  Pots  — _ T?ie  weak  cannot  compete  with  the  strong.  107 

Leopard  and  Fox _. Vanity  impairs  beauty.  1 09 

Hares  and  Frogs Borrowing  trouble,  supreme  folly.  115 

Wisdom  and  Cunning The  crafty  despised  and  self-defeating.  117 

Greediness Greediness  brings  its  own  punishment.  122 

Crow  and  Pitcher _ Mi7id  succeeds  wh  ere  strength  fa  ils.  127 

Force  of  Truth Truth,  the  main  pillar  of  society.  137 

Lark  and  her  Young Do  your  own  business,  friends  a  miserable  reliance.  150 

Fox  in  the  Well Help  better  than  softwords.  153 

Hasty  Anger Be  sure  of  your  facts  ere  you  strike.  155 

Wolf  in  Disguise The  greatest  villians  assume  the  garb  of  virtue.  1 60 

The  two  Dogs Bad  companions  bring  misery.  166 

Wolf  and  the  Lamb Tyrants  always  find  pretexts.  171 

Fox  and  the  Stork DonHjoke  if  you  can*  i  take  jokes.  173 

The  two  Frogs _ Look  beforeyou  leap.  175 

The  two  Travelers  and  lost  Money  Bag Selfishness  cheats  itself  178 

10 


LIST    OF   ENGRAVINGS.  11 

Pagre. 

Wolf  and  Crano . No  gratitude  will  comejrom  a  wolf.  183 

Fox  and  sick  Lion Let  others'  destruction  be  your  warning.  1 92 

Saying  "Nol" Duty,  the  only  safety.  194 

Beggar's  Funeral  _ _.  Virtue,  not  gold,  brings  down  the  angels.  202 

Overloaded  Mule Debt  crushes  and  kills.  204 

Prudence Prudence  ensures  prosperity,  comfort  and  happiness.  207 

The  Flying  Fish The  repining  are  satisfied  nowhere.  211 

Saying  too  Much — Tediou^ness  tires  and  disgusts.  215 

Worldly  Greatness _ The  great  not  the  most  happy.  220 

Two  Dishonest  Men  and  the  Cook The  oaths  of  the  dishonest  as  idle  wind'  226 

The  Unknown  God The  lesson  of  the  mysterious  altar  at  Athens.  228 

Horseman  and  Ungovernable  Steed When  wine  is  in,  ivit  is  out.  233 

Independence  _ ".  — Boldness  to  denounce  evil,  a  duty.  235 

Earth  and  her  Children All  have  their  troubles.  239 

The  Litigious  Cats Go  not  to  law  abouttrifles.  244 

Miseries  of  High  Life _ Mux^h  meat,  much  malady.  246 

David,  King  of  Israel The  great  scenes  in  David'' s  life  in  one  view.  262 

Solomon  the  King "  Solomon's  "  250 

Saint  Paul's  Pathway.- "  Saint  PauVs        "  267 

Paul,  Silas  and  the  Jailer Depicts  the  jailer  ^s  alarm.  271 

Two  Travelers  and  the  Bear False  friends  leave  when  trouble  comes.  257 

Force  of  Prejudice _ Oppression  makes  friends  for  the  weak.  275 

Early  Desire  for  Power Love  of  power  a  natural  passion.  279 

Absalom Shows  the  path  of  a  lying,  villainous  offi.ce-seeker.  283 

The  Bald  Knight To  laugh  is  sometimes  the  greatest  wisdom.  287 

Thief  and  House  Dog _ Honesty  takes  no  bribes.  293 

Sick  Lion.  Wolf  and  Fox Mischief  makers  hurt  themselves.  299 

Condescension  ._ _..   Humility  shows  the  greatest  nobility.  305 

Moral  use  of  the  Pillow Upon  hazardous  projects  sleep  over  night.  309 

Forester  and  the  Lion An  interested  historian  unreliable.  3 14 

Covetous  Man  and  his  Treasure Lntense  love  of  gold,  idolatry.  319 

Father  and  Absent  Boy  _ Happiness  often  increased  by  not  knowing  all.  322 

One- Kyed  Doe _ _ ,  Safety  only  in  seeing  aU  sides.  332 

Fishing  in  Muddy  Waters A  selfish  man  a  bad  neignbor.  336 

Fox  and  Grapes False  pretenses  a  cloak  for  disappointment.  338 

Bear,  Hen  and  Chickens ..  TAe  depraved  ridicule  what  they  are  too  vile  to  adopt.  344 
Lion  and  Ass. 

When  a  tyrant  falls,  the  lowest  down,  the  nearest  to  give  the  first  kick.  351 

Country  Maid  and  her  Milk  Pail Building  air  castles,  dangerous.  356 

Old  Man,  Boy  and  Ass ^o  pleasing  every  body.  357 

Dog  in  the  Manger The  ill-natured  will  not  let  others  enjoy  what  they  cannot  361 

The  Conscientious  Thief The  virtuous  may  be  overcome  by  sudden  temptation.  366 

Handsome  Brother  and  Sister. 

Personal  beauty  no  compensation  for  moral  defects,  372 
Lion  and  Four  Bulls Mutual  jealousies  leave  the  weak  a  prey  to  the  strong.  376 


12  LIST    OF    ENGRAVINGS. 

Page. 

"Wolf  in  Sheep's  Clothing Hypocrisy ^  depravity  in  the  garh  of  virtue.  379 

Fox  and  Crow , Flattery,  the  weapon  of  the  crafty.  381 

Treacherous  Cur An  open  enemy  letter  than  a  false  friend.  383 

Hermit  and  the  Bear. Evil  follows  unequal  companionsh  ip.  392 

Eeed  and  Oak Better  bend  than  to  break.  394 

Perils  of  Youth Dallying  with  temp  tation,  perilous.  397 

Master  and  Scholar Vain  self-confidence,  dangerous.  400 

Giving  Reproof Reprove  with  gentleness  and  love.  406 

Boy  Stealing  Apples As  a  la^t  resort  use  force.  416 

p]agle  and  Fox _ Oppression  brings  vengeance.  419 

Old  Man  and  his  Sons Union  gives  strength.  42 1 

Farmer  and  his  Sons Industry  the  surest  road  to  prosperity.  423 

Dog  invited  to  Supper A  secondhand  interest  a  frail  dependance.  426 

A  Trial  at  Law _ Litigation  too  costly  for  small  matters.  428 

The  Judge  and  Farmer _ ...Do  as  you  would  be  done  by.  431 

The  Power  of  Memory Memory  largely  a  matter  of  cultivation.  436 

Look  Aloft  _ _ In  trouble  look  to  heaven  and  work.  441 

Frogs  desire  a  King Let  well  enough  alone.  445 

Fox  and  Wood  Cutter Actions  speak  truth  when  words  lie.  447 

Horse  and  Loaded  Mule Shirking  brings  greater  labor.  449 

Hare  and  the  Tortoise Slow  industry  wins  over  fitful  speed.  451 

Dove  and  Ant  _ Benevolence  obtains  unexpected  good.  453 

Matron  and  her  Maids. 

Better  bear  the  ills  we  know,  than  to  flee  to  those  which  we  know  not.  455 

Necessity  of  Precaution _ Carelessness  makes  double  work.  459 

Old  Hound The  public  ungrateful  to  faithful  servants  lohen  old  and  worn  out.  462 

"Wolf,  Fox  and  Ape __ Thieves  and  liars  not  credited.  464 

Spendthrift  and  Swallow The  improvident  go  to  destruction.  467 

Lion,  Bear,  Ape  and  Fox One  mu^t  not  always  tell  what  they  know  or  think.  469 

St.  John  and  the  Robber Love  conquers  and  restores.  472 

Mischievous  Dog The  depraved  oft  glory  in  their  shame.  474 

"Waggoner  and  Hercules God  heJps  those  who  help  themselves.  477 

The  Yain  Jackdaw False  pretences  bring  disgrace.  479 

Fraternal  Friendship Love  stronger  than  death.  486 

Ancient  Punishment  for  Idlers  _ Work  or  die.  492 

"Worldly  Reverses Riches  take  wings  and  fly.  49  5 

Mice  in  Council Mice  and  fools  only,  deliberate  upon  the  impossible.  503 

Qcaimhlm^. Property  acquired  solely  through  injury  to  another  can  bring  only  evil.  506 
The  Blessings  of  Peace. -Peace,  the  hope  of  the  righteous  and  the  end  of  sorrow,  50? 


OF  THB 

o'WIVERSIT' 


SKETCH  OF  JOHN  WARNER  BARBER, 

By  HE^EY  HOWE. 


•  ♦■» 


*^  Our  venerable  friend  and  townsman,  Mr.  John  W. 
Barber  " — ^recently  writes  Rev.  Dr.  Leonard  Bacon,  of 
New  Haven — ^'has  been  doing  good  for  more  than 
half  a  century  by-  his  books  and  wood-cut  illustrations. 
The  children  of  more  than  two  generations  and  their 
parents  with  them  have  been  instructed  and  amused 
by  his  labors  as  an  author  and  engraver." 

So  for  the  satisfaction  of  the  multitudes  who  have 
been  benefited  by  his  books,  as  well  as  those  who  are 
to  receive  a  benefit  from  this  volume,  we  here  copy, 
with  some  additions,  the  sketch  of  ^'An  Extraordinary 
Man,"  given  by  us  to  the  New  Haven  Courier,  in  April, 
1879. 

Since  writing  that  sketch,  and  at  the  beginning  of 
this  year  1880,  Mr.  Barber,  who  has  had  an  engraving 
office  in  this  city  continuously  since  1823,  has  given  it 
up  and  retired  to  his  dwelling,  where,  however,  he 
still  labors — always  busy.     We  then  wrote : — 

Some  few  among  us  who  knew  Mr.  J.  W.  Barber  in 
his  former  years  think  he  is  no  longer  living,  his  se- 
cluded habits  and  absorbing  occupations  keeping  him 
largely  away  from  the  public  currents.  Some  of  these, 
if  perchance  they  should  meet  him,  might  fail  to  recog- 
nize him  in  the  stooping  figure  of  an  old  gentleman 


13 


14  SKETCH    OF   JOHN   WARNER   BARBER. 

buried  under  a  huge  cloak  and  shuffling  along  under 
the  burden  of  accumulated  years. 

But  he  is  still  with  us,  ready  to  hand  out  at  any  re- 
quired time  a  card  on  which  is  neatly  engraved  ^' John 
W.  Barber,  born  in  Windsor,  Conn.,  Feb.  2d,  1798: 
bred  a  historical  engraver,  resident  of  New  Haven, 
Conn.,  since  1823,  Member  of  the  Connecticut  Histori- 
cal Society,  Author  of  the  Connecticut,  Massachusetts, 
and  European  Historical  Collections,  etc."  Inquire 
after  his  health  and  he  will  sometimes  reply  :  ^^  Pretty 
well,  thank  you,  for  an  old  man  who  has  lived  longer 
than  David  or  Solomon,  who  takes  more  comfort  than 
when  he  was  a  boy,  and  expects,  by  the  grace  of  God, 
to  live  forever." 

Mr.  Barber's  office  is  in  the  southeast  corner  of  the 
Insurance  building,  with  a  grand  outlook  over  our 
beautiful  New  Haven  harbor  and  Long  Island  Sound. 
He  is  generally  alone  and  working  at  the  engraver's 
desk,  engraving,  writing  books  and  drawing.  A  large 
table  occupies  the  center  of  the  room,  book  cases  the 
walls,  and  the  spot  is  littered  with  old-fashioned  things, 
books,  pictures,  etc.,  the  accumulations  of  years.  But 
amid  apparent  confusion  everything  is  in  its  place,  even 
to  the  oil-stone,  on  which  for  more  than  sixty  years  he 
has  sharpened  his  graver.  On  the  wall  is  a  drawing  of 
his  in  India  ink,  illustrating  '^  The  Last  of  Earth,"  a 
most  strikingly  impressive  design,  worthy  of  Dor^  him- 
self. Mr.  Barber  occasionally  has  visitors.  These  are 
generally  intellectual  people  of  odd  fancies  and  out-of- 
the-way  tastes.  Sometimes  sti'angers,  men  of  mark 
from  abroad,  search  him  out,  such  as  the  antiquarian 
bibliographer,  the  late  George  Brinley,  and  Alcott  the 
Concord  transcendental  philosopher,  the  latter  of  whom 


SKETCH    OF    JOHN    WARNER    BARBER.  15 

impressed  Mr.  Barber  as  a  personage  of  grandly  intel- 
lectual presence,  who  ascribed  his  serene  old  age  to 
having  kept  the  ten  commandments. 

Mr.  Barber  has  much  changed  in  his  personal  appear- 
ance within  the  last  fifteen  years.  His  hair  was  dark, 
his  eyes  full,  black  and  sparkling,  and  his  countenance 
of  such  strongly  marked  individuality,  that  once  seen 
remained  in  the  memory.  Now  his  form  is  bent,  his 
hearing  dulled,  his  locks  white  and  scraggling,  and  fro'm 
incessant  use  in  working  upon  minute  objects,  he  habit- 
ually keeps  his  eyes  partially  closed.  But  he  is  so 
cheerful,  so  sunny,  that  in  looking  upon  him  one  can- 
not but  think  no  crowned  monarch  hath  such  peace. 

Mr.  Barber  was  born  in  1798,  in  Windsor,  Conn., 
three  miles  north  of  Hartford,  on  a  farm  given  to  his 
ancestors  for  military  services  in  the  colonial  wars  with 
the  French  and  Indians.  He  is  a  descendant  of  the 
Pilgrims.  Out  of  the  loins  of  anything  else  but  of 
that  strong,  sturdy  old  New  England  stock  could  have 
come  such  a  peculiar  man. 

The  Barber  family  were  at  this  period  in  humble  cir- 
cumstances, the  father  a  small  farmer,  who  by  turns 
made  brick,  and  in  shad  time  went  a  fishing  in  the 
Connecticut.  His  father  died  when  he  was  about  thir- 
teen years  of  age,  and  thereafter  the  support  of  the 
family  largely  devolved  upon  him.  Their  indigent  cir- 
cumstances he  regards  as  having  been  an  advantage  in 
having  developed  in  him  habits  of  plodding  industry. 

He  worked  on  the  farm,  learned  to  hoe,  dig  pota- 
toes, cut  wood,  milk  a  cow,  drive  a  double  yoke  of 
cattle  and  a  horse  for  one  plow,  to  turn  up  brick  in  a 
brick  yard,  and  to  pound  clothes  for  the  women  on 
washing  days.  This  was  honest  labor,  the  basis  of  all 
3 


16 


SKETCH    OF   JOHN    WARNER    BARBER. 


that  is  sweet  and  beneficent.  He  was  a  studious, 
thoughtful  boy,  and  was  fed  upon  a  few  strong  books, 
and  they  toughened  liis  mental  and  moral  life.  These 
were  the  Bible,  Pilgrim's  Progress,  Mrs.  Barbauld's 
Hymns,  and  the  New  England  Primer.     He  was  from 


BmiH-PLAOB  OF  J.  W.  Barber,  Windsor,  Conn.* 

early  childhood  fascinated  with  pictures,  and  from  ad- 
miring began  to  make  them.  In  the  year  1805,  when 
he  was  but  seven  years  of  age,  the  news  came  of  Nel- 
son's famous  victory,  the  battle  of  the  Nile,  whereupon 
he  made  a  pen  and  ink  sketch  of  the  event. 

*  This  dwelling  is  still  standing  about  three  miles  north  of  the  Old  State 
House  in  Hartford,  on  the  main  road  running  north  and  south,  on  the  west  side 
of  Connecticut  River. 

Windsor  was  the  first  regular  settlement  made  by  white  men  in  the  State.  The 
Congregational  Church  in  Windsor  is  believed  to  be  the  oldest  of  that  order  in  the 
United  States.  Their  house  of  worship  is  about  four  miles  above  the  house  seen 
in  the  engraving.     Many  of  the  first  settlers  in  the  south  part  of  the  town  were 


SKETCH    OF   JOHN   WARNER   BARBER.  17 

This,  with  other  sketches  made  at  the  time  by  him  in 
pen  and  ink,  is  now  before  us  in  a  little  book  about 
three  inches  square.  Another  of  the  sketches  is  a  rep- 
resentation of  the  conflict  between  David  and  Goliath. 
The  paper  of  this  book  is  yellow  with  age,  and  well 
it  might  be,  for  with  his  careful,  methodical  habits  he 
has  preserved  it  for  seventy-five  years  ! 

In  South  Windsor,  on  the  opposite  bank  of  the  Con- 
necticut from  the  Barber  homestead,  was  an  engraving 
establishment  can-ied  on  by  Mr.  Abner  Reed,  then  the 
best  letter  engraver  in  the  United  States,  whom  banks 
in  New  York,  Boston,  and  even  as  far  away  as  Canada, 
employed  to  engrave  their  bank  bills.  In  1812,  when 
in  his  fifteenth  year,  he  was  apprenticed  to  Mr.  Reed 
to  learn  the  art  of  engraving,  and  remained  with  him 
some  seven  years.  Like  Benson  Lossing,  the  historian, 
he  was  destined  to  be  an  engraver  before  becoming  a 

of  the  name  of  Barber;    and  the  first  woman  of  the  early  settlers  who  stepped 
ashore  upon  the  soil,  tradition  says,  was  named  Barber. 

Mr.  Barber  in  his  account  says,  "  The  Barber  family  appear  to  have  adopted 
scriptural  names  for  their  children.  My  grandfather  was  named  Elijah,  his  two 
brothers  Moses  and  Aaron,  and  his  sister,  Abigail.  Elijah  and  his  son  Elijah 
(my  father)  built  the  house  in  which  I  was  born,  just  previous  to  the  commence- 
ment of  the  present  century.  It  was  customary  at  this  period  when  one  erected 
a  habitation  for  himself,  to  call  his  neighbors  together,  and  have  a  Twuse  warming, 
being  a  festive  occasion  of  eating,  drinking,  etc.  Instead  of  these  performances, 
the  family  invited  the  Rev.  Dr.  Strong  of  Hartford  (the  nearest  clergyman  in 
the  vicinity),  to  hold  a  religious  meeting  or  meetings  in  the  house.  The  liouse 
still  remains  in  its  original  size;  strongly  and  firmly  built.  It  was  originally 
painted  red,  but  now  in  white.  Some  little  changes  have  been  made.  The  largo 
chimney  in  the  center  has  been  changed  into  two  smaller,  one  at  each  end  of  the 
building,  and  the  door  on  the  south  side  is  replaced  by  a  window." 


ANXOUNCEMENT. 
The  "  CoNNKCTictJT  Historical  Collections,"  by  J.  W.  Barber— a  work  first  published 
Jn  1886  and  several  editions  later— has  been  out  of  print  for  some  years.  All  the  original  typo- 
graphical and  pictorial  plates  have  been  preserved  In  good  ordcT,  and  it  is  expected  a  new 
edition  will  be  published  during  the  coming  season.  This  work  contains  a^l  the  counties,  with 
a  separate  history  of  every  town  in  Connecticut,  Illustrated  by  nearly  200  engravings,  being 
views  of  cities,  villages,  and  places  of  interest  in  all  parts  of  the  State.  The  day  upon  which 
each  view  wa<i  drawn  or  taken  will  be  given  in  this  forthcoming  edition. 


18  SKETCH    OF    JOHN    WARNER    BARBER. 

historian.  The  latter,  a  younger  man,  states  that  it 
was  the  seeing  of  Mr.  Barber's  works  that  induced  him 
to  become  a  historical  writer. 

In  1823  Mr.  Barber  removed  to  New  Haven,  and 
opened  an  engraving  office.  The  business  of  his  life 
has  since  been  engraving  for  publishers,  and  compiling 
books  for  the  plain  people.  His  first  attempt  as  an 
author  was  in  1819,  and  was  of  the  pictorial  kind.  It 
was  a  series  of  wood  cuts,  printed  on  a  half  sheet  of 
printing  paper.  It  was  entitled  ^^  Bunyan's  Pilgrim's 
Progress,  exhibited  in  a  Metamorphosis  or  a  Trans- 
formation of  Pictures."  The  next  publication  was  an 
emblematic  engraving,  issued  in  Hartford  in  1822,  and 
was  entitled,  ^^  A  Miniature  of  the  World  in  the  Nine- 
teenth Century.''  It  was  engraved  on  copjDcr,  steel 
then  not  having  come  into  use  for  engraving.  It  was 
in  size  about  18x24  inches,  and  filled  with  hundreds  of 
figures.  This  engraving,  in  the  hands  of  the  American 
missionaries,  was  said  to  have  been  the  principal  means 
of  converting  the  Queen  of  the  Sandwich  Islands  to 
Christianity. 

His  historical  books  published  have  been:  History 
and  Antiquities  of  New  Haven,  History  of  New  Eng- 
land, Elements  of  General  History,  European  Histor- 
ical Collections,  the  Historical  Collections  of  Connecti- 
cut, the  Historical  Collections  of  Massachusetts,  the 
Historical  Collections  of  New  York,  and  also  the  His- 
torical Collections  of  New  Jersey  (the  two  last  in  con- 
nection with  the  writer  of  this  article),  and  the  Past 
and  Present  of  the  United  States. 

The  book  on  Connecticut  was  the  model  upon  which 
those  of  many  other  States  were  issued,  as  that  upon 
Virginia  in  1845,   and  that  upon  Ohio,  in  1847,  by 


SKETCH    OF   JOHN   WARNER    BARBER.  19 

Henry  Howe,  the  writer  of  this  article.  The  Con- 
necticut book  was  issued  in  1837,  For  this  object  Mr. 
Barber  traveled  in  a  little  one-horse  wagon,  collecting 
materials,  visiting  in  succession  every  part  of  the  State. 
It  was  illustrated  by  over  two  hundred  wood  cuts,  from 
di'awings  made  by  his  own  hand  while  on  this  tour. 
These  showed  every  village  and  object  of  historic  in- 
terest in  Connecticut. 

The  book  was  immensely  popular,  and  centuries 
hence  copies  of  it  will  be  in  existence  to  show  to  future 
generations  how  all  the  Connecticut  towns  and  villages 
appeared  in  1837 — to  give  all  of  Connecticut  history 
up  to  that  date,  and  to  preserve  the  memory  of  our 
townsman  as  the  author.  On  its  publication  Connecti- 
cut people  felt  proud  of  their  little  State. 

In  this  book  multitudes  had  preserved  pictures  of  the 
dwellings  in  which  they  were  bom,  the  school  houses 
in  which  they  learned  to  read,  and  the  churches  in 
which  they  first  heard  ^^the  everlasting  Gospel." 

We  never  shall  forget  our  first  sight  of  this  book,  on 
its  publication.  We  were  then  a  young  man,  and  al- 
though the  son  of  a  bookseller,  and  thus  bred  among 
books,  it  created  a  novel  and  strong  impression  beyond 
that  of  any  other  book  we  had  ever  seen.  It  had  for 
us,  as  it  had  for  many  others,  an  indescribable  charm. 
The  London  Times  spoke  of  its  engravings  as  possess- 
ing very  great  merit. 

The  largest  of  Mr.  Barber^s  historical  works  is  ^*  The 
Past  and  Present  of  the  United  States."  It  was  a 
work  upon  the  whole  Union  upon  the  plan  of  that 
upon  Connecticut.  It  was  five  years  in  preparation, 
from  1856  to  1861,  during  which  Mr.  Barb'er  traveled 
in  every  State  in  the  Union,  excepting  inthoseon  the 


20  SKETCH    OF    JOHN   WARNER    BARBER. 

Pacific  coast,  and  took  400  original  drawings  for  it.  It 
was  issued  in  two  large  octavo  vokunes  with  unitedly 
600  engravings  and  1,500  pages.  The  issue  was  most 
untimely,  July,  1861,  the  month  of  the  disastrous  bat- 
tle of  Bull  Run.  This  book  was  an  enterprise  solely 
of  our  own.  It  was  an  unfortunate  venture,  few  then 
wanting  such  a  work  upon  the  United  States. 

For  his  various  works  Mr.  Barber  has  made  an  im- 
mense number  of  drawings  from  nature,  of  towns  and 
villages,  etc.,  and  copied  vast  numbers  of  monumental 
inscriptions,  probably  more  than  any  man  living  or 
any  man  that  ever  did  live. 

It  is  by  his  religious  works  that  Mr.  Barber  will 
also  be  largely  known  in  the  future.  He  has  ever 
had  a  faith  that  it  was  his  mission  to  preach  the  Gos- 
pel by  means  of  pictures. 

Four  of  his  emblematic  books  have  been  combined 
in  one  large  octavo  volume  entitled,  ^'The  Bible  Look- 
ing Glass,"  of  which  more  than  120,000  copies  have 
been  sold  from  the  Kennebec  to  the  Rio  Grande,  and 
been  the  means  of  reforming  the  lives  of  many. 
These  books  are  the  Clnistian  Pilgnm,  The  Christian 
Similitudes,  Religious  Allegories,  and  Religious 
Emblems.  Among  the  world  of  books  it  is  perhaps 
the  only  one  that  enforces  the  principles  of  Christianity 
and  of  human  nature  by  object  teaching.  Over  130 
topics  are  introduced  and  enlarged  upon  by  illustrative 
pictures,  accompanied  by  letter-press  discourses — such 
topics  as  Repentance,  Faith,  Love,  Hope,  The  Selfish 
Man,  Spiritual  Pride,  The  end  of  Human  Gjeatness, 
etc. 

The  Bible  Looking  Glass  has  some  of  the  character- 
istics of  Bunyan^s  Pilgrim's  Progress.     When  the  last 


SKETCH  OF  JOHN  WAENER  BARBER.        21 

was  originally  issued  it  was  sneered  at  by  the  literary 
world  from  the  eccentricity  and  coarseness  of  its  illus- 
trations, the  homeliness  of  its  diction  and  the  uncouth-* 
ness  of  its  poetry. 

Bunyan's  allegory  lived  down  its  detractors  and 
became  famous ;  and  now,  after  the  lapse  of  two  cen- 
turies, has  been  translated  into  more  languages  than 
any  book  in  the  entire  world  of  literature,  the  Bible 
excepted,  and  is  regarded  by  the  highest  minds  as  a 
work  of  extraordinary  power  and  originality. 

The  peculiarity  of  the  Bible  Looking  Glass  is,  that 
every  picture  enforces  a  principle.  It  is  a  big  picture 
book  on  religion.  People  who  never  would  look  into 
the  Bible  itself  are  attracted  to  it,  for  no  book  extant 
so  instantly  enforces  the  grand  truths  of  religion  and 
morals.  Mr.  Barber  makes  his  designs  solely  to  illus- 
trate a  principle  or  to  show  an  object.  Not  pretty  pic- 
tures, but  facts,  truths  are  his  aim.  The  singularity  of 
his  designs,  often  grotesque,  at  once  attract  atten- 
tion, often  create  a  smile,  but  this  feeling  soon  van- 
ishes. They  are  full  of  thought,  of  suggestion,  and 
enforce  the  great  truths  with  extraordinary  power. 
Even  the  vile  are  attracted  by  them.  "While  numerous 
eminent  scholars  have  attested  their  admiration  of  this 
work,  it  will  especially  interest  some  in  this  commu- 
nity to  learn  that  President  Porter  has  recently  thus 
expressed  his  judgment : 

"  I  liave,"  writes  he,  "  read  with  great  interest  the  Bible  Look- 
ing Glass.  The  homeliness  of  the  cuts,  the  plainness  of  the 
speech,  and  the  solemnity  of  the  appeals  give  to  the  author  the 
right  to  be  considered  a  genius  in  his  capacity  to  adapt  himself  to 
the  plain  people.  I  think  it  not  extravagant  to  say  that  there  are 
some  millions  of  our  fellow-citizens  to  whom  it  is  better  adapted 
than  almost  any  other  book  on  religion  or  morals." 


22  SKETCH    OF    JOHN    WARNER    BARBER. 

Rev.  Dr.  McCosh,  of  Princeton,  also  testifies :  "  This  work  is 
extremely  interesting  in  consequence  of  its  lively  manner  and 
contents  and  is  fitted  to  impart  high  instruction." 

Mr.  Barber  has  been  all  through  life  a  solitary  man, 
rarely  mingling  with  his  fellows,  but  filling  his  hours 
with  beneficent  labor,  living  in  the  world  of  his  own 
ideas.  All  intense  idealists  and  workers  of  the  highest 
order  are  alike  solitary,  taken  possession  of  by  devo- 
tion to  their  projects — ^^  blessed  with  a  master  passion 
and  a  monopolizing  work.''  Such  men  live  in  such  a 
difi*erent  cuiTcnt  of  thoughts  and  pursuits  from  others, 
that  they  are  generally  regarded  as  oddities. 

He  feels  thankful  that  he  was  born  poor  and  bred 
among  the  common  people,  to  which  class  he  has  felt 
himself  as  belonging  and  for  whose  benefit  he  has 
always  labored.  With  all  his  industry  he  has  but  slen- 
der external  possessions ;  but  is  inwardly  rich  in  the 
graces  of  a  contented,  peaceful  spirit.  And  now,  near 
the  termination  of  a  long  journey  we  have  no  question 
but  that  when  the  final  end  is  reached,  he  will  find 
ready  for  his  use  one  of  the  strong  texts,  so  many  of 
which  he  so  pungently  enforces  in  his  works — ^^  Yea, 
though  I  walk  through  the  valley  of  the  shadow  of 
death,  I  will  fear  no  evil,  for  thou  art  with  me,  thy  rod 
and  thy  staff  they  comfort  me." 


A  PERSONAL  DIARY  OF  SIXTY-SEVEN 

YEARS. 


Mr.  Barber,  as  we  have  stated,  was  apprenticed  in 
his  fifteenth  year,  the  fall  of  1812,  to  Mr.  Abner  Reed  to 
learn  the  art  of  engraving.  Two  months  later  he  began 
a  diary.  From  that  period  to  this,  excepting  for  two 
months  when  he  was  sick  nigh  unto  death,  he  has 
entered  the  business  of  the  day,  notable  events,  and 
where  he  was.  The  first  date  entered  is  January  22, 
1813,  and  the  last  yesterday,  Monday,  February  16, 
1880,  a  period  of  over  sixty-seven  years. 

The  entries  are  brief,  in  a  minute,  round,  upright 
hand,  plain  as  print.  Often  but  a  single  word  is  enter- 
ed, as  *^  engraving,"  "writing."  A  page  is  devoted  to 
each  month,  67  years  and  26  days,  that  is  a  diary  of 
804  months  and  pages  and  24,476  days.  We  doubt  if 
there  is  another  such  a  lengthy,  continuous  personal 
diary  extant.  The  diary  is  a  curiosity  as  a  record  of 
industry.  Almost  every  day  of  the  67  years  shows 
some  work  done ;  and  useful  work.  We  make  a  few 
extracts  with  comments,  some  of  which  are  of  historic 
value,  beginning  with  the  first  entry. 


23 


24  PERSONAL    DIARY   OF   SIXTY-SEVEN  YEARS. 

1813,  Jan.  22.     Went  to  mill  and  bound  copies. 

He  went  to  mill  on  horseback,  riding  on  bags  of  rye.  Connec- 
ticut faimers  then  lived  mainly  on  rye  bread.  Wheat  was  only 
used  by  the  more  wealthy  people  of  the  cities.  In  the  eastern 
part  of  the  State  the  people  used  rye  and  Indian  corn,  and  made 
them  into  Journey  cakes  or  Johnny  cakes,  as  some  called  them. 

The  expression  "  bound  copit^s  "  requires  explanation.  Previous 
to  this  period  the  schoolmasters  throughout  the  country  "set 
copies"  of  their  own  writing,  often  ugly  and  uncouth,  before  the 
children  whereby  they  were  to  learn  penmanship.  To  remedy 
this,  Mr.  Reed  invented  a  system  of  penmanship,  and  published  a 
writing  book  with  engraved  copies  upon  each  page ;  and  "  bound 
copies  "  refers  to  the  stitching  of  those. 

1813,  Feb.  2.  Engraved  (bird  plate).  Evening 
trimmed  copies. 

On  this  day  he  was  15  years  old.  It  was  his  first  day  at  en- 
graving, which  he  has  followed  to  this  hour.  Thousands  of  times 
the  date  and  the  single  word  "  engraving  "  occurs  in  his  diary, 
showing  how  the  day  was  passed. 

March  2.     Drawing  birds.     Evening  bound  copies. 

March  5.     Scouring  and  burnishing  plate. 

March  7.  Sunday.  My  turn  [to  stay].  Sam  went 
home. 

May  11.    Engraved.    Mr.  Kensett  and  his  wife  came 

[on  their  bridal  tour.] 

July  25.     Reaping. 

The  expression  above,  "  scouring  and  burnishing  plate,"  refers 
to  preparing  a  copper  plate  for  engraving.  Engraving  on  steel 
was  then  unknown.  Copper  is  so  soft  that  after  five  or  six  thou- 
sand impressions  were  taken  it  was  considered  as  worn  out ;  hence  it 
is  now  discarded  and  steel  used,  because  from  it  many  thousands 
can  be  printed  without  perceptible  injury.  From  wood  a  million 
good  impressions  can  be  taken.  Wood  engraving  was  then  so 
despised  that  none  of  the  apprentices  of  Mr.  Reed  but  young  Bar- 
ber would  deign  to   learn  to  engrave  upon  it.     At  this  period, 


PERSONAL   DIARY    OF   SIXTY-SEVEN  YEARS.  25 

however,  and  for  many  years  after,  be  mainly  engraved  on  copper. 
The  Mr.  Kensett  to  whom  he  refers  was  the  father  of  John  Ken- 
sett,  the  celebrated  American  landscape  painter  who  lost  his  life 
through  his  philanthropy.  "  Reaping  "  was  done  with  a  sickle. 
Three  clips  were  given  and  then  "  a  lay  down." 

1814,  May  14.     Election.     Went  to  Hartford. 

Election  was  a  three-days'  holiday,  beginning  on  Thursday,  when 
the  Governor  was  inaugurated,  and  lasting  through  the  week. 
The  country  people  for  miles  around  flocked  to  Hartford.  There 
were  always  gathered  more  or  less  negroes  and  Indians  with  their 
squaws,  melancholy  remnants  of  a  <5ying  race. 

During  election  gambling  and  drunkenness  held  a  high  carni- 
val. Gambling  tables  with  dice  and  liquor  stands  were  in  and 
around  the  State  House  Square,  dancing  and  fiddling  going  on 
hard  by,  "  double  shuffle  and  break  down."  Men  and  boys  moved 
amid  the  throng  with  glasses  and  bottles  of  cherry  rum ;  tackled 
everybody  to  sell  them  a  drink,  making  dives,  half  a  dozen  at  a 
time,  upon  the  countrymen  coming  in  on  horseback  and  thirsty 
from  the  dust  of  the  roads.  By  noon  the  liquor  had  got  well 
circulated,  when  more  or  less  fights  took  place  with  pushing 
crowds  and  seizures  by  the  constables  and  conveyances  to  the 
jail,  followed  by  yelling,  hooting,  drunken  bands.  Similar  scenes 
we  remember  as  happening  in  our  extreme  youth  on  the  New 
Haven  Green  on  the  occasion  of  regimental  trainings. 

The  foregoing  picture  may  astonish  some  of  the  young.  Such 
scenes  could  not  be  enacted  now.  The  morals  of  the  New  Eng- 
land people  were  never  so  low  as  in  the  few  decades  after  the 
French  and  Revolutionary  wars.  Infidel  ideas  had  been  brought 
to  America  by  the  French  soldiery.  Religion  was  at  a  very  low 
ebb.  For  a  time  the  profession  of  religion  was  regarded  by  some 
as  the  indication  of  a  weak  mind.  Drinking  was  well  nigh  uni- 
versal A  large  share  of  the  soldiers  of  the  Revolution,  from  the 
serving  of  liquor  rations,  became  drunkards.  Even  as  late  as  our 
boyhood,  1825,  the  term  "old  soldier"  was  applied  to  the  beg- 
garly tramps  that  went  from  house  to  house,  blear-eyed  and 
ragged.  The  tramp  of  our  time  is  a  gentleman  in  his  attire  com- 
pared to  those  "old  soldiers." 

At  that  period,  all  through  the  country,  a  large  proportion  of 
the  population  were  made  wretched  by  intemperance.     In  every 

2 


26  PERSONAL    DIARY    OF    SIXTY-SEVEN  YEARS. 

New  England  village  were  seen  ruinous,  dilapidated  houses  with 
old  hats  and  old  rags  stuffed  in  the  windows  to  replace  broken 
glass,  which  indicated  where  the  miserable  lived;  and  these 
mainly  descendants  of  the  Puritans,  for  the  foreign  born  were 
then  few  and  far  between.  The  Temperance  Reform  changed  all 
this,  brought  joy  and  gladness  into  many  a  household  and  beauti- 
fied the  whole  aspect  of  the  country.  Never  did  any  people 
ever  before  experience  such  a  grand  moral  uprising  against  a 
habit,  interwoven  as  it  was  with  every  business  and  social  custom 
from  the  cradle  to  the  grave.  It  was  owing  to  the  tremendous 
strenorth  of  their  reli<?ious  ideas. 

1816,  Oct.  11.  Friday.  Engraved  Tree  of  Science. 
Lecture   [before   church   communion].      Filed*  block. 

Wood  blocks  were  then  squared,  leveled  to  the  height  of  type 
and  made  smooth  for  the  graver  by  filing — a  tedious  operation. 

Oct.  13.  Sunday.  Communion  A.  m.  The  Canaan- 
itish  woman,  p.  m.,  Hebrews  xi.  16:  ^^But  now  they 
desire  a  better  country." 

All  through  Mr.  Barber's  diary  the  Sabbath  texts  are  given, 
and  often  the  name  of  the  preacher. 

Rev.  Thomas  Robbins,  a  Congregationalist,  was  his  pastor.  He 
had  probably  the  largest  private  library  in  the  State,  which  was 
free  to  the  young  engraver.  He  graduated  at  Yale  in  1796,  and 
for  a  long  term  of  years,  perhaps  30,  regularly  came  down  to  New 
Haven  to  Commencement.  He  came  in  a  one-horse  chaise  with  a 
calashe  top,  which  kept  a  continual  bobbing  up  and  down  like  a 
shaking  Mandarin.  Doubtless  the  school  children  on  seeing  him 
approach,  according  to  the  beautiful  custom  of  that  time — that 
we  should  be  delighted  to  see  revived  in  this — left  their  play  and 
arranged  themselves  on  each  side  of  the  road  and  '*  made  their 
manner?,"  the  girls  in  a  courtesy,  the  boys  in  a  bow,  and  occa- 
sionally had  the  compliment  returned  by  the  tossing  out  of 
pennies  to  them.  We  remember  Mr.  Robbins  in  our  youthful 
days,  a  small,  bland  old  gentleman,  attired  in  the  old  Revolu- 
tionary costume,  and  with  white  top  boots.  He  was  that  rara 
avis  for  a  Protestant  divine,  a  bachelor. 


PERSONAL    DIARY    OF    SIXTY-SEVEN  YEARS.  27 

In  some  parts  of  the  diary  the  month  is  headed  by  a  verse  of 
poetry,  indicating  a  moral  or  a  religious  sentiment.  Here  are 
specimens : 

June,  1816. 
"  What  makes  man  wretched  ?     Happiness  denied  ? 
Lorenzo  1  no  1     'Tia  happiness  disdained. 
She  comes  too  meanly  dressed  to  win  our  smiles 
And  calls  herself  'Content,'  a  homely  name." 

September,  1816. 
**  Should  bounteous  nature  kindly  pour 
Her  richest  gifts  on  me, 
Still,  0,  ray  fiod,  I  should  be  poor 
If  void  of  love  to  thee." 

We  now  make  a  long  skip  in  the  diary ;  one  of  forty  years. 

1856,  Dec.  28.     Took  lobelia. 

This  was  at  Macon,  Georgia.  He  was  then  at  the  beginning  of 
a  historical  tour,  collecting  materials  and  taking  sketches  for 
"  The  Past  and  Present  of  the  United  States,"  which  we  published 
in  July,  1861.  He  had  been  exposed  to  the  poisonous  malaria 
ot  the  marshes  of  Florida,  and  fell  sick  nigh  unto  death.  In  the 
house  where  he  was,  lived  a  botanic  physician  who  gave  him 
lobelia.  It  was  the  only  time  in  his  life  in  which  he  employed  a 
medical  man;  and  then  occurred  the  only  gap  in  his  diary  of  67 
years.  A  blank  page  is  headed  January.  It  looks  white  and 
ghastly.  His  life  was  trembling  on  a  balance.  He  prayed  to  the 
Almighty  to  preserve  him  to  finish  a  religious  book  upon  which 
he  had  been  engaged — "The  Similitudes."  February  is  also 
mostly  blank.     The  next  entry  is  near  the  bottom  of  the  page. 

1857,  Feb.  27.     Evening  set  out  for  Augusta. 

We  make  another  and  last  skip  in  his  diary,  this  time  23  years 
only, — years  crowded  with  events — which  brings  us  to  the  week 
and  the  day  on  which  this  page  is  written. 

1880,  Feb.  16.     Engraving  view  of  my  birth-place 

for  "The  Royal  Road  to  Happiness;  or  The  Picture 
Preacher/* 


^ 


INTRODUCTION. 


This  work  consists  of  Fables,  articles  on  the  wise 
Conduct  of  Life,  moral  narratives  and  anecdotes,  all 
tending-  to  the  same  end,  to  blend  amusement  with 
instruction.  It  was  at  first  designed  to  have  the  fables 
occupy  the  first  part  of  the  work,  and  the  other  matter 
the  last  part,  but  this  plan  was  changed  and  the  two 
different  features  are  now  intermingled,  which  we 
think  will  prove  more  pleasant  to  the  reader.  We 
open  this  introduction  with  the  subject  of  Fables,  in- 
cluding a  sketch  of  ^sop. 

"  Fables,"  says  Mr.  Addison — a  celebrated  writer  at 
the  beginning  of  the  last  century — ^*were  the  first 
pieces  of  wit  that  made  their  appearance  in  the  world, 
and  have  been  highly  valued,  not  only  in  the  times  of 
the  greatest  simplicity,  but  among  the  most  polite  ages 
of  mankind.  Jotham's  Fable  of  the  Trees,  is  the  old- 
est extant,  and  as  beautiful  as  any  which  have  been 
since  that  time.  Nathan's  Fable  of  the  Poor  Man  and 
his  Lamb,  is  more  ancient  than  any  that  is  extant, 
besides  the  above  mentioned,  and  had  so  good  an  effect 
as  to  convey  instruction  to  the  ear  of  a  king,  without 

29 


30  INTRODUCTION. 

offending  liim,  and  to  bring  the  ^  man  after  God's  own 
heart '  to  a  right  sense  of  his  guilt  and  his  duty." 

Parables  and  Fables  are  common  and  popular  meth- 
ods of  instruction.  The  Parable  is  intended  to  convey 
a  hidden  and  secret  meaning  other  than  that  contained 
in  the  words  or  narration,  and  which  may,  or  may  no, 
bear  a  special  reference  to  the  hearer  or  reader.  The 
true  Fable,  if  it  rise  to  its  high  requirements,  ever  aims 
at  one  great  end  and  purpose — the  representation  of 
human  motive,  and  the  improvement  of  human  con- 
duct, and  5^et  it  so  conceals  its  design  under  the 
disguise  of  fictitious  personages  or  characters,  by 
endowing  with  speech  the  animals  of  the  field,  the 
beasts  of  the  forests,  the  birds  of  the  air,  etc.,  so  the 
reader  shall  receive  advice  without  perceiving  the 
presence  of  the  adviser. 

By  the  above  method  of  instruction  the  superiority 
of  those  who  teach  or  instruct,  is  kept  out  of  view 
which  often  renders  counsel  unpalatable ;  so  the  lesson 
comes  with  the  greater  acceptance  when  the  reader  is 
led,  unconsciously  to  himself,  to  have  his  sympathies 
enlisted  in  behalf  of  what  is  pure,  honorable  and 
praiseworthy,  and  to  have  his  indignation  excited 
against  what  is  low,  ignoble  and  unworthy.  The  true 
fabulist,  therefore,  discharges  a  most  important  func- 
tion. He  is  a  great  teacher,  a  corrector  of  morals,  a 
censor  of  vice  and  a  commender  of  virtue.  The  fab- 
ulist may  create  a  laugh,  but  yet,  under  a  meiTy  guise, 
he  is  able  to  convey  instruction. 

"  'T  is  the  simple  manner,"  says  Dodsley,  "in  which 
the  morals  of  ^sop  are  interwoven  with  his  fables 
that  distinguishes  him  and  gives  him  the  preference 
over  all  other  mythologists."      An  equal    amount  of 


INTRODUCTION.  31 

praise  is  due  for  the  consistency  with,  which  ihe  char- 
acters of  the  animals,  fictitiously  introduced,  are 
marked.  While  they  are  made  to  depict  the  motives 
and  passions  of  men,  they  retain  in  an  eminent  degree 
their  own  special  features  of  craft  and  counsel,  or  of 
cowardice  or  courage,  of  generosity  or  rapacity. 

These  terms  of  praise  cannot,  with .  propriety,  be 
bestowed  upon  a  great  portion  of  the  numerous  collec- 
tions which  now  go  under  his  name.  The  great  bulk 
of  them  are  not  the  immediate  work  of  .^sop.  Many 
are  obtained  from  ancient  authors  prior  to  the  time  in 
which  he  lived ;  many  of  them  again  are  of  later 
origin,  and  are  to  be  traced  to  the  monks  of  the  middle 
ages  ;  and  yet  this  collection,  though  made  up  of  fables 
both  earlier  and  later  than  the  era  of  JEsop,  rightfully 
bear  his  name  because  he  composed  so  large  a  number 
all  framed  in  the  same  mould,  and  conforaied  in  all 
essential  particulars  to  the  same  pattern  which  he 
adopted :  it  is  right  and  proper  that  he  should  be  con- 
sidered as  the  father  of  Greek  fables,  and  the  founder 
of  this  class  of  writing,  which  has  ever  since  borne  his 
name  and  secured  for  him  in  succeeding  ages  a  position 
among  the  first  of  moralists. 

The  fables  were,  in  the  first  instance,  only  narrated 
by  ^sop,  and  were  for  a  long  time  handed  down  by 
the  uncertain  channel  of  oral  tradition.  Socrates  is 
mentioned  by  Plato  while  in  j^rison  awaiting  his  death 
as  turning  some  of  these  fables  into  verse.  Phalerus, 
a  philosopher  at  Athens,  about  300  B.  C,  is  said  to 
have  made  the  first  collection  of  these  fables.  Phoe- 
drus  imitated  many  in  Latin  iambic  verse  about  the 
commencement  of  the  Christian  era.  Aphthonius,  a 
rhetorician  of  Antioch,  A.  C.  315,  wrote  a  treatise  on 


32  INTRODUCTION. 

and  converted  into  Latin  prose,  some  of  these  fables. 
The  rhetoricians  and  philosophers  were  accustomed  to 
give  the  Fables  of  ^sop  as  an  exercise  to  their  schol- 
ars, not  only  to  discuss  the  moral  of  the  tale,  but  also 
to  practice  and  to  perfect  themselves  thereby  in  style 
and  rules  of  grammar  by  making  for  themselves  new 
and  various  versions  of  the  fables. 

After  a  lapse  of  several  centuries  in  which  is  included 
what  is  called  the  ^^  dark  ages,"  we  find  on  the  revival 
of  learning  in  Italy  a  revival  of  interest  in  the  Fables 
of  ^sop.  These  fables  were  among  the  first  writings 
of  an  earlier  antiquity  that  attracted  attention.  They 
took  their  place  beside  the  Holy  Scriptures  and  the 
ancient  classic  authors,  in  the  minds  of  the  great  stu- 
dents of  the  day.  As  early  as  1475 — 1480  these  fables 
were  brought  into  extensive  circulation  by  the  printing 
press.  In  1485,  Caxton  translated  them  into  English 
and  printed  them  at  Westminster  Abbey,  in  London. 

The  knowledge  of  these  fables  spread  rapidly  from 
Italy  to  Grermany.  Martin  Luther,  the  Reformer, 
translated  twenty  of  them  and  was  urged  by  Melanc- 
thon  to  complete  the  whole ;  while  Gottfried  Arnold, 
the  Lutheran  theologian  and  librarian  to  Frederick  I. 
king  of  Prussia,  mentions  that  the  great  Reformer 
valued  the  Fables  of  uEsop  next  after  the  Holy  Scrip- 
tures. 

In  1610,  a  learned  Swiss  writer,  Nevelet,  sent  forth  a 
third  printed  edition  of  these  fables,  entitled  ^^  Mytho- 
logia  ^sopica,"  which  contained  a  large  number  of 
new  additions  copied  from  the  MSS.  found  in  the  Vati- 
can Library  at  Rome,  and  is  considered  as  the  most 
perfect  edition  of  the  ^sopian  fables  yet  published. 
In  a  recent  translation  from  the  Greek,  by  the  Rev.  G. 


INTRODUCTION.  33 

F.  Townsend,  it  is  stated  that  since  the  publication  of 
Nevelefs  volume,  in  1610,  ^^no  book,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  the  Holy  Scriptures,  has  had  a  wider  circula- 
tion than  ^sop's  Fables.  They  have  been  translated 
into  the  greater  number  of  languages  both  of  Europe 
and  of  the  East,  and  have  been  read,  and  will  be  read 
for  generations,  alike  by  Jew,  Heathen,  Mahommedan, 
and  Christian.  They  are  at  the  present  time,  not  only 
engrafted  into  the  literature  of  the  civilized  world,  but 
are  familiar  as  household  words  in  the  common  inter- 
course and  daily  conversation  of  the  inhabitants  of  all 
countries. 

Since  the  translation  of  the  ^sopian  Fables  into  the 
English  tongue  in  1485,  many  editions  have  appeared 
in  a  variety  of  forms.  In  more  modern  times,  the  ver- 
sion of  this  work  by  Samuel  Croxhall,  D.D.,  Arch  dea- 
con of  Hereford,  England,  appears  to  have  been  the 
most  popular.  Dr.  Croxhall  died  at  a  great  age  in  1759. 
The  great  circulation  to  which  his  version  of  the 
^^  Fables  of  ^sop'^  has  been  owing,  it  is  believed,  to 
the  ^^Application"  which  he  has  subjoined  to  each 
fable. 

The  author,  or  rather  the  compiler  of  this  work,  has 
in  addition  to  Dr.  Croxhall's  Application  of  the  moral, 
prefixed  Scriptural,  or  ^^ Bible  References"  to  each 
Fable.  He  has  also  given  on  each  fable  a  printed  sen- 
tence illustrating  at  a  glance  the  truth  to  be  enforced. 
Both  of  these  features  are  original  with  him ;  were 
never  before  given  and  are  covered  by  the  copyright, 
as  are  also  many  of  the  pictorial  designs  which  are 
original  with  him. 

In  the  great  number  of  Fables  which  have  been 
published  under  uEsop's  name  are  some  foimd  so  coarse 

8* 


34  INTRODUCTION. 

and  indelicate  in  expression  that  they  hardly  would  be 
tolerated  in  our  modern  times ;  others  which  may  be 
considered  rather  of  an  irreligious  tendency,  while 
some  appear  not  to  convey  any  valuable  instruction. 
All  these  have  been  omitted.  The  object  in  these 
pages  is  to  convey  moral  and  religious  instruction  to 
the  mind  in  a  forcible  manner,  in  accordance  with  the 
great  principles  of  Christianity.  In  order  to  effect  this, 
he  has  not  hesitated  to  omit  some  things  in  the  fables 
which  he  mainly  copied,  and  make  additions  of  his 
own  wherever  he  thought  proper,  in  the  Reflections. 

THE  LIFE  OF  ^SOP. 

The  life  and  history  of  ^sop  is  involved,  like  that 
of  the  most  famous  of  Greek  poets,  in  much  obscurity. 
Sardis,  the  capital  of  Lydia ;  Samos,  a  Greek  island ; 
Mesembria,  an  ancient  colony  in  Thrace  ;  and  Cotioeum, 
the  chief  city  of  a  province  of  Phrygia,  contend  for 
the  distinction  of  being  the  birth-place  of  ^sop.  He 
is,  by  an  almost  universal  consent,  allowed  to  have 
been  born  about  620  B.  C,  and  to  have  been  by  birth 
a  slave.  He  was  owned  by  two  masters  in  succession, 
both  inhabitants  of  Samos,  Xanthua  and  Jadmon,  the 
latter  of  whom  gave  him  his  liberty,  as  a  reward  for 
his  learning  and  wit. 

One  of  the  privileges  of  a  freedman  in  the  ancient 
republics  of  Greece,  was  the  permission  to  take  an 
active  part  in  public  affairs,  ^sop,  in  his  desire  alike 
to  instruct  and  be  instructed,  traveled  through  many 
countries,  and  among  others  came  to  Sardis,  the  capital 
of  the  famous  King  of  Lydia,  the  great  patron  of 
learning  and  of  learned  men.     He  met  at  the  court  of 


INTRODUCTION.  36 

Croesus  with  Solon,  Thales,  and  other  sages,  and  is  re- 
lated to  have  so  pleased  his  royal  master  by  the  part 
he  took  in  the  conversations  held  with  these  philoso- 
phers, that  he  applied  to  him  an  expression  which  has 
since  passed  into  a  proverb,  ^^  The  Phrygian  has  spoken 
better  than  all." 

On  the  invitation  of  Croesus,  he  fixed  his  residence 
at  Sardis,  and  was  employed  by  that  monarch  in  various 
difficult  and  delicate  affairs  of  State.  In  the  discharge 
of  these  he  visited  the  different  petty  republics  of 
Greece.  One  of  these  ambassadorial  visits,  undertaken 
at  the  command  of  Croesus,  appears  to  have  been  the 
occasion  of  his  death.  Having  been  sent  to  Delphi 
with  a  large  sum  of  gold  for  distribution  among  the 
citizens,  he  was  so  provoked  at  their  covetousness  that 
he  refused  to  divide  the  money,  and  sent  it  back  to  his 
master.  The  Delphians,  enraged  at  this  treatment, 
accused  him  of  impiety,  and,  in  spite  of  his  sacred 
character  as  an  ambassador,  executed  him  as  a  public 
criminal. 


As  before  observed  a  large  part  of  this  volume  is 
composed  of  articles  other  than  fables.  Many  of  these 
are  essays  illustrating  ^^The  Ways  of  Man"  in  the  cir- 
cumstances in  which  he  may  be  jDlaced.  Most  of  these 
originally  appeared  in  the  Connecticut  Courant,  one  of 
the  oldest  and  most  influential  weekly  journals  in  the 
State  from  which  its  name  is  derived.  They  were 
therein  commenced  in  April,  1815,  and  were  ended  in 
September,  1818.  They  were  written  by  Ezra  Samp- 
son, a  retired  clergyman,  who  for  a  short  time  resided 
in  Hartford,  Conn.  These  essays  were  first  published 
in  a  book  form  for  the  author,  when  at  Hudson,  N.  Y., 


36  INTRODUCTION. 

in  1818.      Mr.  S.  died  in  New  York  in   1823,   aged 
seventy-four  years.* 

Mr.  Sampson,  in  his  prefatory  remarks,  says  that  it 
occurred  to  him  in  the  early  part  of  liis  Hfe  that  essays 
not  scholastic,  but  practical,  written  in  a  manner  to 
gain  attention,  replenished  with  the  philosophy  of  plain 
common  sense,  in  plain  English,  in  homely  household 
truths,  which  should  come  home  to  the  business  and 
bosom  of  community  at  large,  could  hardly  fail  of 
being  acceptable,  and  of  producing  salutary  effects. 

A  small  leak  may  sink  a  big  ship;  a  trifling  wound  may, 
when  neglected,  irritate  and  bring  down  to  the  grave 
a  hale  and  healthy  body.  And  so  also  in  regard  to 
morals;  petty  trespasses  open  the  way  to  dark  and 
atrocious  crimes.  Both  good  and  bad  habits  are 
formed,  not  unfrequently,  by  circumstances  seemingly 
trifling  in  themselves.  The  impressions  and  the  bent, 
received  in  infancy  and  childhood,  go  far  toward  form- 
ing the  character  of  manhood.  The  natural  temper  of 
the  young  mind  is  turned,  at  least  in  many  instances, 
to  humane  or  ferocious  acts,  accordingly  as  it  happens 
to  fall  into  skillful  and  kindly,  or  unskilled  and  barba- 
rous hands. 

In  conclusion,  the  compiler  of  this  volume  has 
thought  proper  to  revise  some  expressions,  etc.,  and 
add  some  items  in  several  instances  to  the  original 
essays;  and  has  introduced  articles  of  his  own  on  the 
plan  adopted  by  Mr.  Sampson,  as  well  as  a  variety  of 
other  matters  calculated  to  enforce  important  moral 
truth. 

J.  W.  B. 


THE  TWO  ROADS 


BY  JEAN  PAUL  RICHTER. 


It  was  New  Year's  night.  An  aged  man  was  stand- 
ing at  a  window.  He  mournfully  raised  his  eyes 
towards  the  deep  blue  sky,  where  the  stars  were  floating 
like  white  lilies  on  the  surface  of  a  clear,  calm  lake. 
Then  he  cast  them  on  the  earth,  where  a  few  more  help- 
less beings  than  himself  were  moving  towards  their 
inevitable  goal — the  tomb.  Already  he  had  passed 
sixty  of  the  stages  which  lead  to  it,  and  he  had  brought 
from  his  journey  nothing  but  errors  and  remorse.  His 
health  was  destroyed,  his  mind  unfurnished,  his  heart 
sorrowful,  and  his  old  age  devoid  of  comfort. 

The  days  of  his  youth  rose  up  in  a  vision  before  him, 
and  he  recalled  the  solemn  moment  when  his  father 
had  placed  him  at  the  entrance  of  two  roads,  one  lead- 
ing into  a  peaceful,  sunny  land,  covered  with  a  fertile 
harvest,  and  resounding  with  soft,  sweet  songs;  while 
the  other  conducted  the  wanderer  into  a  deep,  dark 
cave,  whence  there  was  no  issue,  where  poison  flowed 
instead  of  water,  and  where  serpents  hissed  and  crawled. 

He  looked  towards  the  sky,  and  cried  out  in  his 
anguish  :  "  O  youth,  return !  O  my  father,  place  me 
once  more  at  the  crossway  of  life,  that  I  may  choose  the 
better  road ! "  But  the  days  of  his  youth  had  passed 
away,  and  his  parents  were  with  the  departed.  He  saw 
wandering  lights  float  over  dark    marshes,  and  then 

37 


38  THE   TWO    ROADS. 

disappear.  "  Such,"  he  said,  "  were  the  days  of  my 
wasted  life ! "  He  saw  a  star  shoot  from  heaven,  and 
vanish  in  darkness  athwart  the  church-yard.  "Behold 
an  emblem  of  myself?"  he  exclaimed;  and  the  sharp 
arrows  of  unavailing  remorse  struck  him  to  the  heart. 

Then  he  remembered  his  early  companions,  who  had 
entered  life  with  him,  but  who  having  trod  the  paths 
of  virtue  and  industry,  were  now  happy  and  honored 
on  this  New  Year's  night.  The  clock  in  the  high 
church-tower  struck,  and  the  sound,  falling  on  his  ear, 
recalled  the  many  tokens  of  the  love  of  his  parents  for 
him,  their  erring  son ;  the  lessons  they  had  taught  him  ; 
the  prayers  they  had  offered  up  in  his  behalf.  Over- 
whelmed with  shame  and  grief,  he  dared  no  longer  look 
towards  that  heaven  where  they  dwelt.  His  darkened 
eyes  dropped  tears,  and  with  one  despairing  effort,  he 
cried  aloud,  "  Come  back,  my  early  days !  Come  back !  " 

And  his  youth  did  return ;  for  all  this  had  been  but 
a  dream,  visiting  his  slumbers  on  New  Year's  night. 
He  was  still  young,  his  errors  only  were  no  dream. 
He  thanked  God  fervently  that  time  was  still  his  own ; 
that  he  had  not  yet  entered  the  deep,  dark  cavern,  but 
that  he  was  free  to  tread  the  road  leading  to  the  peace- 
ful land  where  sunny  harvests  wave. 

Ye  who  still  linger  on  the  threshold  of  life,  doubting 
which  path  to  choose,  remember  that  when  years  shall 
be  passed,  and  your  feet  shall  stumble  on  the  dark 
mountain,  you  will  cry  bitterly,  but  cry  in  vain,  **  O 
youth  return !  Oh  give  me  back  my  early  days ! " 


The  Royal  Road  to  Happiness. 


THE  LION  AND  THE  MOUSE. 

A  lion  was  awakened  from  sleep  by  a  mouse  run- 
ning over  liis  face.  Kising*  up  in  anger,  he  caught  the 
mouse,  and  was  about  to  kill  him,  wlien  he  piteously 
entreated  the  lion,  saying,  ^^  If  you  would  only  spare 
my  life,  I  would  be  sure  to  repay  your  kindness."  The 
lion  laughed  and  let  him  go.  It  happened  shortly 
after  this  that  the  lion  was  caught  by  some  hunters, 
who  bound  him  by  strong  ropes  to  the  ground.  The 
mouse,  recognizing  his  roar,  came  up,  and  gnawed  the 
rope  with  his  teeth,  and  setting  him  free,  exclaimed, 
"  You  ridiculed  the  idea  of  my  ever  being  able  to  help 
you,  not  expecting  from  me  any  re-payment  of  your 
favor;  but  now  you  know  it  is  possible  for  even  a 
mouse  to  confer  benefits  on  a  lion." 

Application. — This  fable  gives  us  to  understand, 
that  there  is  no  person  in  the  world  so  little,  but  even 
the  greatest  may  at  some  time  or  other  stand  in  need 
of  his  assistance ;  and  consequently  that  it  is  good  to 
use  clemency,  where  there  is  any  room  for  it,  towards 
those  who  fall  within  our  power.  A  generosity  of  this 
kind  is  a  handsome  virtue,  and  looks  very  graceful 
whenever  it  is  exerted,  if  there  were  nothing  else  in  it : 
but  as  the  lowest  people  in  life  may,  upon  occasion, 
have  it  in  their  power  either  to  save  or  hurt  us,  that 

89 


40 


EOYAL   ROAD    TO   HAPPINESS;    OR 


A  Mouse  saves  a  Lion 

Mercy  obtains  Tnercy. 


•"^.■.lri/•^^T,".^/,aV«'M^?'''l^^^■.l.'UJ\^7//l^i/,'^Vl";'lL>'^^  1  •■»■.-•■:-  "'■•• 


THE  LION  AND  THE  MOUSE. 


JBlessed  are  the  merciful,  for  they  shall  obtain  mercy.     Matt.  v. 

7. The  raercifid  m,an  doeth  good  to  his  own  soul.     Prov\  xi.  17. 

Blessed  is  he  that  consideretli  the  poorj  the  Lord  will  deliver 


him  in  time  of  trouble.     Psa.  xli.  1. 


THE    PICTURE    PREACHER.  41 

makes  it  our  duty,  in  point  of  common  interest,  to 
behave  ourselves  with  good  nature  and  lenity  towards 
all  with  whom-  we  have  to  do.  Then  the  gratitude  of 
the  mouse,  and  his  readiness,  not  only  to  repay,  but 
even  to  exceed  the  obligation  due  to  his  benefactor, 
notwithstanding  his  little  body,  gives  us  the  specimen 
of  a  great  soul,  which  is  never  so  much  delighted  as 
with  an  opportunity  of  showing  how  sensible  it  is  of 
favor  received. 


THE  DOG  AND  THE  SHADOW. 

A  dog,  crossing  a  stream  with  a  piece  of  flesh  in  his 
mouth,  saw  his  shadow  represented  in  the  clear  mirror 
of  the  limpid  stream,  and  believing  it  to  be  another 
dog,  who  was  carrying  another,  and  what  seemed  to  be 
a  larger  piece  of  flesh,  he  could  not  forbear  catching 
at  it;  but  was  so  far  from  getting  anything  by  his 
greedy  design  that  he  dropped  the  piece  he  had  in  his 
mouth,  which  immediately  sank  to  the  bottom  and  was 
irrecoverably  lost. 

Application. — He  that  catches  at  more  than  belongs 
to  him  justly  deserves  to  lose  what  he  has.  Yet 
nothing  is  more  low  and  at  the  same  time  pernicious, 
than  this  selfish  principle.  It  prevails  from  the  king 
to  the  peasant,  and  all  orders  and  degrees  of  men  are 
more  or  less  infected  with  it.  Great  monarchs  have 
been,  drawn  in  by  this  greedy  humor  to  grasp  at  the 
dominion  of  their  neighbors ;  not  that  they  wanted 
anything  more  to  feed  tlieir  luxury,  but  to  gratify  their 
insatiable  appetite  for  vain  glory.  If  the  kings  of 
Persia  could  have  been  contented  with  their  own  vast 
territories  they  had  not  lost  all  Asia  for  the  sake  of  a 
little  petty  state  in  Greece. 

We  have  seen  something  of  this  folly  in  the  history 
of  modem  kingdoms  or  states  of  Europe.  Nations 
which  were  the  governing  powers  a  few  generations 


42 


ROYAL    KOAD    TO    HAPPINESS;   OR 


^1    Grasp  for  more 
™       and  lose  all. 


THE  DOG  AND  THE  SHADOW 


Tea  they  are  greedy  dogs  which  can  never  have  enough,     Isn. 

Ivi.  11. He  coveteth  all  the  day  long,     Prov.  xxi.  2G. Xot 

greedy  of  filthy  lucre I.  Tim.  iii.  3. But  they  that  icill  he 

rich  fall  hito  temptation  and  a  snare which  drown  men  in 

destruction  and  perdition,     I.  Tim.  vi.  9. Take  heed  and  beware 

of  covet ousness.  Luke  xii.  15. Let  your  conversation  he  with- 
out covetousness;  and  he  content  with  such  things  as  ye  have,  Heb. 
xiii.  5. 


THE    PICTURE    PREACHER.  43 

Since,  have  now  become  the  weakest,  by  grasping  at 
more  than  properly  belonged  to  them. 

He  that  thinks  he  sees  another  estate  in  a  pack  of 
cards,  or  a  box  and  dice,  or  ventures  his  own  in  the 
pursuit  of  it,  should  not  repine  if  he  finds  himself  a 
beiT^ar  in  the  end. 

After  tlie  discovery  of  America,  by  Columbus,  the 
Spaniards  flocked  in  considerable  nimibers  to  Mexico 
and  other  places  in  the  new  world,  to  obtain  posses- 
sion where  gold  was  found  in  unusual  quantities. 
Shocking  cruelties  were  practiced  upon  the  natives  to 
make  them  give  up  their  gold.  Many  of  tlie  sol- 
diers who  first  entered  Mexico  so  overloaded  them- 
selves with  gold  that,  in  their  flight,  they  were  easily 
overtaken  and  killed  by  the  enemy,  or  were  drowned 
in  the  lake  that  surrounds  the  city. 

John  Law,  a  Scotch  accountant  and  financier,  was 
born  in  1671,  and  was  the  author  of  the  most  gigantic 
financial  operation  in  modern  times.  In  1716,  he  went 
to  Paris,  and  succeeded  in  gaining  the  confidence  of 
the  Regent,  Orleans,  who  authorized  him  to  establish 
a  bank  and  take  the  management  of  it.  To  this  was 
added  the  Mississippi  company,  whose  object  was  to 
pay  off  the  national  debt,  and  enrich  the  subscribers. 
Ultimately,  the  Company  was  granted  the  monopoly 
of  the  trade  of  France  to  the  Southern  seas,  and 
finally.  Law's  establishment  was  created  the  Royal 
Bank,  in  1718. 

This  project  of  gain,  called  the  Mississippi,  or  South 
Sea  scheme,  became  extravagantly  popular  through  the 
hope  of  immense  gain,  and  ev^ery  one  appeared  anx- 
ious to  convert  his  gold  and  silver  into  the  paper  of 
the  bank,  which  rose  to  twenty  times  its  original 
vahie,  and,  in  1719,  was  calculated  as  worth  more 
than  eighty  times  the  circulating  coin  of  the  whole 
nation;  but  at  length  the  bubble  burst,  and  many 
thousands  of  families,  once  wealthy,  were  reduced  to 
poverty.     Law  became  the  object  of  general  execra- 


44  ROYAL   ROAD    TO   HAPPINESS;    OR 

tion,  and  was  obliged  to  quit  France.  He  wandered 
about  Germany  during  several  years,  and  died  in  indi- 
gence in  Venice,  in  1729. 

The  folly  of  the  dog  in  the  fable,  who  grasps  at  the 
shadow,  is  forcibly  illustrated  in  the  career  of  the 
Emperor  Napoleon.  Having  subdued  nearly  every 
country  in  Europe,  in  1812,  he  attempted  to  bring  the 
whole  continent  under  his  rule,  by  making  war  against 
Eussia.  He  penetrated  to  Moscow,  which  was  fired  by 
the  Russians,  and  three-fourths  of  their  ancient  capital 
was  destroyed.  No  winter  quarters  and  provisions 
could  be  obtained  for  the  army,  which,  in  retreating, 
were  overcome  by  hunger  and  the  cold  of  a  Eussian 
winter  and  mostly  perished.  About  30,000  horses 
died  in  a  single  day.  He  made  several  efforts  after- 
wards to  retrieve  his  fortunes,  but  finally  perished  a 
prisoner  at  St.  Helena,  on  a  rock  in  mid-ocean,  in  1821. 


THE   BENEFITS   OF  CHILDHOOD. 

None  of  the  inferior  animals  come  into  the  world 
so  helpless  as  the  human  race  and  continue  so  for  so 
long  a  time.  The  younglings  of  the  lower  part  of  the 
animal  creation  are  endowed  with  strength  and  active- 
ness,  and,  in  many  instances,  with  a  sagacity  that 
astonishes  the  beholder  and  sets  his  philosophy  at 
defiance.  Very  shortly  they  quit  the  dam  and  become 
their  own  providers.  But  the  infant  is  puling  in  the 
mother's  arms  for  many  months  and  dependant  on 
parental  care  for  as  many  years. 

Is  this  remarkable  circumstance  in  the  economy  of 
our  nature  meant  to  be  a  burden  or  a  blessing  ?  A 
blessing,  doubtless:  Because  in  the  helpless  condition 
of  the  infant,  which  continues  so  long  dependant  on 
others,  is  laid  the  ground  work  of  the  social  ties.  We 
first  learn  to  show  kindness  at  home.     It  is  there  that 


THE    PICTURE    PREACHER.  45 

the  social  principles  of  our  nature  ordinarily  are  first 
put  in  exercise  and  drawn  forth  into  practice. 

The  key-stone  of  the  fabric  of  society  is  laid  in  mar- 
riage, and  the  strong  pillars  of  the  superstructui*e  are 
established  in  infancy.  The  helpless  progeny — for  a 
long  time  helpless — incessantly  demand  the  kind  attach- 
ments of  the  parents,  who  are  the  more  attached  to  their 
fondlings  from  the  very  circumstance  of  their  impotent 
weakness  and  utter  dependance. 

The  benefits  resulting  to  children  from  a  due  attach- 
ment to  their  early  instruction  in  the  rudiments  of 
learning  and  virtue  have  frequently  been  the  subject 
of  able  pens.  Both  in  prose  and  in  verse  they  have 
been  described  so  clearly  and  with  so  much  fullness 
that  it  would  be  difficult  to  add  to  what  is  already 
written.  But  it  has  been  too  little  considered  of  what 
unspeakable  benefit  good  family  instruction  is  to  pa- 
rents themselves. 

He  that  is  teaching  another  is  teaching  himself;  and 
more  especially  is  it  so  in  a  moral  point  of  view.  Those 
attentions  which  parents  employ  in  the  moral  and 
religious  instruction  of  their  offspring  have  a  powerful 
tendency  towards  guarding  and  strengthening  their 
own  moral  and  religious  feelings  and  habits.  Hardly 
can  they  in  serious  earnest  exhort  their  children  against 
vice  without  experiencing  an  increase  of  resolution  to 
guard  against  it  in  their  own  lives ;  or  earnestly  incul- 
cate upon  them  the  necessity  of  virtuous  conduct, 
without  acquiring  an  increase  of  desire  and  of  careful- 
ness to  act  virtuously  themselves.  They  must  be 
sensible  that  example  has  more  influence  on  the  yoimg 
mind  than  precept,  and  that  their  good  precepts  will  be 
thrown  away  unless  they  be  careful  to  exemplify  them 
in  their  daily  walk  and  conversation.  They  cannot 
but  be  conscious  that  their  own  example  has  a  most 
powerful  and  decided  influence  in  training  up  their 
children  to  honor  or  disgrace,  to  happiness  or  misery ; 
and  consequently  they  have,  in  their  children,  a  con- 


46  ROYAL   ROAD   TO   HAPPINESS;    OR 

stant  stimulation  to  a  virtuous,  respectable  course  of 
behavior. 

While  your  attention  is  daily  employed  in  training* 
your  child  in  tlie  way  he  should  go,  you  are  at  the 
same  time  nurturing  in  yourself  the  things  that  are 
virtuous  and  lovely ;  you  are  ameliorating  your  own 
temper  and  disposition;  and  are  attaining  a  double 
security  against  aught,  of  word  or  act,  that  has  the 
appearance  of  vice  or  even  of  indecorum.  So  true  is 
it  that  your  daily  efforts  to  render  your  example  worthy 
the  imitation  of  your  child  are  daily  remunerated,  and 
richly  so,  by  the  benefits  resulting  from  it  to  the  frame 
of  your  moral  nature,  independently  of  the  benefits 
accruing  to  the  child.  Nor  would  it  be  hazarding  too 
much  to  say  that  the  parents  who  had  discharged  the 
parental  duties  faithfully  and  discreetly  never  yet  failed 
of  reaping  to  themselves  an  amount  of  profit  far  ex- 
ceeding all  the  pains,  even  though  the  welfare  of 
their  children  were  out  of  the  question. 

The  scene  of  marriage  was  originally  laid  out  not 
amongst  ''  the  thorns  and  thistles"  of  the  curse,  but  in 
the  blissful  abodes  of  Paradise.  The  first  divine  bene- 
diction was  pronounced  upon  the  conjugal  union  of 
man  and  woman ;  and  in  no  wise  is  it  evincive  of  the 
narrowness  of  superstition  to  indulge  a  religious  belief 
that  virtuous  marriage  has  generally,  in  some  respect 
or  other,  been  crowned  with  the  blessing  of  God  from 
the  first  time  it  consummated  in  the  garden  up  to  the 
present  day. 


THE  KITE  AND  PIGEON. 

A  kite,  who  had  kept  sailing  in  the  air  for  many 
days  near  a  dove-house,  and  made  a  stoop  at  several 
pigeons,  but  all  to  no  purpose  (for  they  were  too 
nimble  for  hiipa),  at  last  had  recourse  to  stratagem,  and 
took  his  opportunity  one  day  to  make  a  declaration  to 


THE    PICTURE    PREACHER. 


them,  in  wliicli  he  set  forth  his  own  just  and  good 
intentions,  who  had  nothing  more  at  heart  than  the 
defence  and  protection  of  the  pigeons  in  their  ancient 
rights  and  Hberties ;  and  how  concerned  he  was  at  their 
fears  and  jealousies  of  a  foreign  invasion,  especially 
their  unjust  and  unreasonable  suspicions  of  himself,  as 
if  he  intended,  by  force  of  arms,  to  break  in  upon  their 
constitution  and  erect  a  tj^rannical  government  over 
them.  To  prevent  all  which,  and  thoroughly  to  quiet 
their  minds,  he  thought  proper  to  propose  to  them 
such  terms  of  alliance  and  articles  of  peace  as  might 
forever  cement  a  good  understanding  between  them : 
the  principal  of  which  was,  that  they  should  accept  of 
him  for  their  king,  and  invest  him  with  all  kingly 
privilege  and  prerogative  over  them.  The  poor,  simple 
pigeons  consented :  the  kite  took  the  coronation  oath 
after  a  very  solemn  manner,  on  his  part,  and  the  doves 
the  oaths  of  allegiance  and  fidelity,  on  theirs.  But 
much  time  had  not  passed  over  their  heads  before  the 
good  kite  pretended  that  it  was  part  of  his  prerogative 
to  devom-  a  pigeon  whenever  he  pleased.  And  this  he 
was  not  contented  to  do  himself  only,  but  instructed 
the  rest  of  the  royal  family  in  the  same  kingly  art  of 
government.  The  pigeons,  reduced  to  this  miserable 
condition,  said,  one  to  the  other,  Ah!  we  deserve  no 
better!     Why  did  we  let  him  come? 

Application. — What  can  this  fable  he  applied  to, 
but  the  exceeding  blindness  and  stupidity  of  that  part 
of  mankind  who  wantonly  and  foolishly  trust  their 
native  rights  and  liberty  without  good  security?  who 
often  choose  for  guardians  of  their  lives  and  fortunes 
persons  abandoned  to  the  most  unsociable  vices;  and 
seldom  have  any  better  excuse  for  such  an  error  in 
politics  than  that  they  were  deceived  in  their  expecta- 
tion; or  never  thoroughly  knew  the  manners  of  their 
king  till  he  had  got  them  entirely  in  his  power? 
Which,  however,  is  notoriously  false;  for  many,  with 
the  doves  in  the  fable,  are  so  silly  that  they  would 


48  ROYAL  ROAD  TO  HAPPINESS;  OR 

admit  of  a  kite  rather  than  be  without  a  king.  The 
truth  is,  we  ought  not  to  incur  the  possibility  of  being 
deceived  in  so  important  a  matter  as  this;  an  unHmited 
power  should  not  be  trusted  in  the  hands  of  any  one 
who  is  not  endued  with  a  perfection  more  than  human. 


THE   FOX  AND   BOAR. 

The  boar  stood  whetting  his  tusks  against  an  old 
tree.  The  fox,  who  happened  to  come  by  at  the  same 
time,  asked  him  why  he  made  those  martial  prepara- 
tions of  whetting  his  teeth,  since  there  was  no  enemy 
near,  that  he  could  perceive.  '^  That  may  be.  Master 
Rejnard,'^  says  the  boar;  '^but  we  should  scour  up  our 
arms  while  we  have  leisure,  you  know ;  for,  in  time  of 
danger,  we  shall  have  something  else  to  do." 

Application. — He  that  is  not  idle  when  he  is  at 
leisure,  may  play  with  his  business.  A  discreet  man 
should  have  a  reserve  of  everything  that  is  necessary 
before  hand,  that,  when  the  time  comes  for  him  to 
make  use  of  them,  he  may  not  be  in  a  hurry  and  a 
confusion.  A  wise  general  has  not  his  men  to  disci- 
pline, or  his  ammunition  to  provide,  when  the  trumpet 
sounds  To  Arms;  but  sets  apart  his  time  of  exercise  for 
one,  and  his  magazines  for  the  other,  in  the  calm  season 
of  peace.  AVe  hope  to  live  to  a  good  old  age ;  should  we 
not  then  lay  up  a  store  of  conveniences  against  that 
time,  when  we  shall  be  most  in  want  of  them,  and  least 
able  to  procure  them!  We  must  die;  nay,  never  start; 
we  must.  Are  there  not  some  necessary  things  for  us 
to  transact  before  we  depart;  at  least,  some  trifle  or 
other  for  us  to  bequeath,  which  a  sudden  stroke  may 
prevent  us  from  doing?  Sure  there  is.  And  if  so, 
how  inexcusable  shall  we  be  if  we  defer  the  execution 
of  it  till  the  alarm  comes  upon  us!  I  did  not  think  of 
it!  is  an  expression  unworthy  a  wise  man's  mouth,  and 
was  only  intended  for  the  use  of  fools. 


THE    PICTURE    PREACHER.  49 


THE   HUNTER  AND  WOODMAN. 

A  hunter,  not  very  bold,  was  searching  for  the 
tracks  of  a  lion.  He  asked  a  man  felling  oaks  in  the 
forest  if  he  had  seen  any  marks  of  his  footprints,  or  if 
he  knew  where  his  lair  was.  *'I  will,"  he  said,  *^at 
once  show  you  the  lion  himself"  The  hunter,  turning 
very  pale,  and  chattering  with  his  teeth  from  fear, 
replied,  ^'No,  thank  you.  I  did  not  ask  that;  it  is  his 
track  only  I  am  in  search  of,  not  the  lion  himself." 

The  hero  is  brave  in  deeds  as  well  as  words. 


JOB  AND  HIS  THREE  FRIENDS. 

^^The  Book  of  Job,"  says  a  learned  commentator,  "is 
the  most  singular  book  in  the  whole  of  the  Sacred 
Code ;  though  written  by  the  same  inspiration  and  in 
reference  to  the  same  end,  is  different  in  the  construc- 
tion of  its  language  from  that  of  the  Law^  the  PropJi- 
ets  and  the  Historical  Books."  But  on  all  hands  it  is 
accounted  a  work  that  contains  the  purest  morality ,  the 
sublimest  philosojjliy,  the  simplest  ritual  and  the  most 
majestic  Creed.  Except  the  first  two  chapters,  and  the 
ten  last  verses,  which  are  merely  prose,  all  the  rest  of 
the  book  is  j^oetic  ;  and  is  reducible  everywhere  to  the 
same  fonii  in  which  all  the  other  poetic  books  of  the 
Bible  are  written. 

The  book  opens  with  an  account  of  Job's  piety  and 
prosperity,  the  charge  of  selfishness  and  hypocrisy 
which  Satan,  the  adversary,  brought  against  him,  and 
the  permission  which  was  given  him  to  reduce  Job  to 
ihiQ  deepest  distress  as  a  trial  of  his  integrity.  It  pro- 
ceeds to  relate  how  his  former  friends  who,  witnessing 
his  severe  sufferings,  were  led  to  condemn  him  as  a 
wicked  man  who  was  being  punished  for  his  crimes. 
This  gave  rise  to  a  warm  controversy  whether  heavy 

3 


60 


jaOYAL   EOAD   TO   HAPPINESS;   OR 


JOB   AND   HIS  THREE   FRIENDS. 


Ye  have  heard  of  the  patience  of  Job,     James  v.  1 1. So  went 

Satan  forth  and  smote  Job  with  sore  boils  ....  and  he  sat  doxon 
among  the  ashes  .  .  .  Job'^s  three  friends  came,  ,  they  saio  his  grief 

was  very  great.     Job  ii.  7-13. Miserable  comforters  are  ye  all. 

Job  xvi.  2. Job  answered  the  Lord ....  now  my  eye  seeth  thee. 

Wherefore  I  abhor  myself,  and  repent  hi  dust  and  ashes.     Job 
xlii.  1-6. 


k 


THE   PICTURE   PEEACHER.  51 

afflictions  prove  any  person  who  is  apparently  pious, 
to  be  a  hypocrite.  In  disputing  this  point,  the  princi- 
ples of  true  religion  were  argued  by  Job,  and  his 
three  friends,  Eliphaz,  Bildad  and  Zophar,  who  had 
come  to  comfort  him.  While  many  things  were 
spoken  that  were  in  accordance  with  true  religion,  yet, 
in  the  controversy  or  discussion  as  a  whole,  there  was 
a  sad  mixture  of  human  infirmity. 

When  they  could  by  no  means  come  to  an  agree- 
ment upon  the  subject,  Elihu,  with  great  modesty  and 
solemnity,  interfered;  and  having  first  censured  the 
other  disputants  for  condemning  Job,  he  proceeded  to 
reprove  him  for  his  improper  eagerness  in  justifying 
himself,  by  which  he  had  reflected  on  the  justice  of 
God.  While  he  was  discoursing,  the  Lord  himself 
spake  out  of  the  whirlwind,  and  by  a  discovery  of  his 
incomparable  majesty  and  glory,  made  Job  sensible  of 
his  presumption,  and  brought  him  to  humble  himself 
before  him.  This  being  effected,"  he  justified  Job  from 
the  charge  of  hypocrisy,  and  condemned  the  conduct 
and  language  of  his  friends,  and  decided  the  contro- 
versy in  favor  of  Job. 

*'When  a  man  falls  into  misfortune,"  says  a  good 
writer,  *4t  often  happens  that  some  of  those  he  had 
most  befriended  while  in  prosperity,  are  the  first  to 
forsake,  and  even  to  censure  and  reproach  him.  The 
reason  is  plain :  because  they  think  him  a  pigeon  no 
longer  worth  the  plucking." 

The  book  in  the  world  that  best  unfolds  the  human 
heart  is  the  Bible.  There  we  find  a  man  of  vast  sub- 
stance ;  as  liberal  as  he  was  rich,  and  pious  as  liberal. 
A  man  who  was  eyes  to  the  blind,  and  feet  to  the 
lame;  ^Svho  was  a  father  to  the  poor,"  and  whose 
charitable  hand  and  consoling  voice  made  the  widow's 
heart  sing  for  joy.  While  the  ^* candle  of  the  Lord 
shined  upon  his  head,"  unbounded  respect  was  paid  him. 
The  old  as  well  as  young,  princes  and-  nobles,  as  well 
as  peasants,  did  him  obeisance.     He  had  friends  with- 


52  itOYAL    ROAD    TO    HAPPINESS;    OR 

out  number ;  close  friends — ^fixedly  determined  never  to 
forsake  him  in  his — prosperity. 

To  answer  the  mysterious  purposes  of  infinite  wis- 
dom tlio  arrow  of  affliction  was  pointed  at  Job.  In  a 
single  hour  he  fell  from  the  height  of  prosperity  to  the 
lowest  depths  of  human  wretchedness.  Bereft  of  his 
children  at  a  stroke,  reduced  to  abject  poverty,  cov- 
ered from  head  to  foot  with  a  loathsome  disease,  he  sat 
upon  the  ground,  and  was  left  to  weep  his  woes  by 
himself.  He  cries  in  the  anguish  of  his  soul,  ^^My 
kinsfolk  have  failed  and  my  familiar  friends  have  for- 
gotten me  ;  they  that  dwelt  in  my  house  count  me  for 
a  stranger  .  .  ,  .  my  breath  is  strange  to  my  wife  ; 
yea,  young  children  despised  me,  and  spake  against 
me."  Even  his  three  friends  who  came  unto  him, 
apparently  to  comfort  him,  did  but  add  grief  to  his  sor- 
rows. In  addition  to  his  outward  trials,  when  he 
attempted  to  rest  on  his  bed  at  night  he  was  terrified 
by  dreams  and  visions,  so  that  he  chose  death  rather 
than  life. 

The  apostle  James,  in  order  to  nerve  up  the  minds 
of  his  brethren  to  endure  the  trials  of  life  with  pa- 
tience, bids  them  look  at  Job,  and  see  that  the  end  of  the 
Lord  in  these  things  is  to  show  pity  and  mercy.  Even 
in  this  life  ^Hhe  Lord  turned  the  captivity"  of  Job,  for 
he  lived  a  long  life  after  all  troubles,  and  doubled  the 
prosperity  of  his  best  days. 


MOSES,  THE  LAW-GIVER 

Moses,  the  great  Law-giver,  Prophet  and  Leader 
of  the  children  of  Israel,  was  born  in  Egypt,  about 
1573,  before  the  Christian  era,  of  Hebrew  parents,  of 
the  tribe  of  Levi.  The  Israelites  at  this  time  were  in 
a  state  of  slavery  to  the  Egyptians.  As  they  multi- 
plied rapidly,  Pharaoh,  the  Egyptian  king,  became 
jealous  of  their  power  which,  in  order  to  prevent,  he 


MOSES,  THE  LAW-GIVER. 


TTie  daughter  of  Pharaoh  came  down  . . .  and  when  she  saw  the 

child .  ,  .  .  she  had  compassion  on  him.     Exod.  ii.  5,  6. And 

Moses  stretched  forth  his  hand  over  the  sea  .  .  .  the  waters  returned 
and  covered  the  chariots  ,  .  .  and  all  the  hosts  of  Pharaoh.     Exod. 

xiv.  28,  28. And  Moses  .  .  .  with  his  rod  smote  the  rock  twice  : 

and  the  water  came  out  ahundanth/.     Num.  xx,  11. A7id  the 

Lord  said  unto  Moses,  come  up  into  the  mouiit . . .  I  will  give  thee 
tables  of  stone,  Exod.  xxiv.  12 Thou  shalt  rear  up  the  taber- 
nacle.    Exod.  xxvi.  30. And  Moses  made  a  serpent  of  brass  .  . 

upon  a  pole.     Num.  xxi.  9. And  Moses  went  up  to  the  top  of 

Pisgah  , .  ^  so  Moses  died,     Deut.  xxxiv.  1,  5. 


54  ROYAL    ROAD    TO    HAPPINESS;    OR 

commanded  his  people  to  destroy  all  the  male  children 
born,  by  casting  them  into  the  river.  His  mother  hid 
him  for  three  months,  and  when  she  could  do  it  no 
longer  she  took  an  ark,  or  small  basket  of  rushes,  and 
coated  it  over  with  a  kind  of  slime  or  pitch,  and  con- 
cealed her  infant  among  the  flags  by  the  side  of  the 
river.  The  daughter  of  Pharaoh,  coming  down  to  the 
river  to  wash,  discovered  the  ark  and  sent  one  of  her 
maidens  to  bring  it.  When  it  was  opened,  the  babe 
wept,  and  she  had  compassion  on  him.  The  sister  of 
Moses,  who  was  set  to  watch  him,  saw  what  was  done. 
Pharaoh's  daughter,  wishing  to  adopt  this  infant  as  her 
son,  wanted  a  Hebrew  nurse.  The  sister  of  Moses 
informed  the  princess  that  she  knew  of  one ;  she  w^as 
sent  for,  and  thus  the  mother  was  employed  to  nurse 
her  own  son. 

When  Moses  arrived  at  the  proper  age  he  was  edu- 
cated, and  provided  for  as  the  son  of  Pharaoh's  daugh- 
ter, and  became  learned  in  all  the  wisdom  of  the  Egyp- 
tians. It  is  probable  that  he  was  designed  to  occupy 
some  exalted  position — perhaps,  even  the  throne  itself. 
Becoming  acquainted  with  his  Hebrew  origin,  and 
feeling  an  attachment  to  the  Hebrews,  he  ^^  chose 
rather  to  suffer  affliction  with  the  people  of  God,  than 
to  enjoy  the  pleasures  of  sin  for  a  season." 

Feeling  for  his  brethren,  Moses  slew  a  tyrant  who 
was  oppressing  an  Israelite.  Seeing  two  Israelites 
striving  together  he  attempted  their  reconciliation.  He 
was  reproached  for  his  interference,  and  finding  that 
his  own  people  would  not  stand  by  him,  and  that  the 
king  sought  to  slay  him,  he  fled  to  Midian.  This  took 
place  when  lie  was  forty  years  of  age. 

Moses's  life  appears  to  have  been  divided  into  three 
remarkable  periods,  each  embracing  the  same  length 
of  time— about  forty  years  in  the  Court  of  Pharaoh, 
forty  years  in  the  land  of  Midian,  and  forty  years  in 
leading,  guiding  and  governing  the  Israelites  through 
the  wilderness  to  the  land  of  Canaan. 


THE    PICTURE    PREACHER.  55 

Moses,  having  found  refuge  in  the  land  of  Midian, 
entered  into  the  service  of  Jethro,  a  priest  or  prince 
in  that  country,  and  married  Zipporah,  his  daughter, 
by  whom  he  had  two  sons,  Eleazer  and  Gershom.  His 
occupation  was  that  of  a  shepherd,  keeping  the  flock 
of  his  father-in-law,  at  which  he  continued  about  forty 
years.  Israel  at  this  period  began  to  cry  out  to  God 
for  deliverance  from  the  hard  bondage  of  the  Egyp- 
tians, God  answered  their  call.  God  appeared  to 
Moses  in  the  midst  of  a  burning  hush,  near  Mount 
Horeb,  which  was  not  consumed.  He  declared  to 
Moses  that  the  time  for  the  deliverance  of  his  people 
had  come,  and  bade  him  go  to  Pharaoh  and  demand 
their  liberty.  Moses  shrunk  from  the  task.  '^  Who  am 
I,"  said  he,  "  that  I  should  go  unto  Pharaoh,  and  that 
I  should  bring  the  children  of  Israel  out  of  Egj^pt  V^ 
All  his  objections  were  answered  by  the  assurance, 
^^  Certainly  I  will  be  with  thee." 

Moses  went  on  the  errand  appointed,  and  being 
associated  with  his  brother  Aaron,  appeared  before  the 
Egyptian  king  and  wrought  several  striking  miracles 
to  prove  the  truth  of  their  mission.  The  king  refus- 
ing to  let  the  people  go,  God  sent  ten  grievous  plagues, 
the  last  of  which  was  the  death  of  all  the  first-lorn  of 
all  the  Egj^ptians  at  midnight.  Pharaoh  and  all  the 
Egyptians  were  urgent  to  have  the  Israelites  leave  at 
once,  being  afraid  to  have  them  stay  any  longer. 
Thus  the  children  of  Israel  after  a  sojourn  of  four 
hundred  and  thirty  years,  left  their  house  of  bondage 
and  commemorated  the  event  by  instituting  the  ordi- 
nance of  the  Passover. 

In  their  march  God  directed  them  toward  the  Red 
Sea.  Pharaoh,  having  recovered  from  the  fright  occa- 
sioned by  the  death  of  the  first-bom,  determined  to 
follow  tlie  Israelites  and  bring  them  back.  He  foimd 
them  encamped  by  the  Red  Sea.  They  were  com- 
manded to  go  forward.  Moses  stretched  out  his  rod 
over  the  sea,  and  it  divided  to  let  the  people  through 


56  ROYAL    KOAD    TO    HAPPINESS;    OR 

on  dry  land ;  Pharaoh  and  his  host  followed  them.  The 
Israelites  all  safely  got  over.  Then  Moses  was  again 
commanded  to  stretch  forth  his  hand,  when  the  waters 
returned  to  their  accustomed  channel  and  overwhelmed 
the  Egyptians ;  and  Israel  saw  their  enemies  dead 
upon  the  sea  shore. 

When  the  Israelites  left  Egypt  under  Moses  they 
were  supposed  to  be  about  three  millions  in  number. 
This  great  company  was  formed  into  a  regular  body, 
and  the  utmost  order  was  observed  in  their  marches 
and  encampments.  When  before  Mount  Sinai  Moses 
was  called  up  the  Mount  where  he  received  the  ten 
commandments,  which  are  the  most  ancient  code  of 
laws  now  in  existence.  They  are  a  complete  summary 
of  all  the  duties  which  mankind  owe  to  God  and  each 
other.  Moses  was  forty  days  in  the  Mount.  He  was 
given  two  tables  of  stone  on  which  were  recorded  the 
ten  cpmmandments.  God  also  gave  directions  con- 
cerning the  order  of  their  worship,  the  building  of  an 
ark,  tabernacle,  etc.,  which  were  to  be  taken  with  them 
wherever  they  went. 

While  they  were  on  their  wanderings  God  per- 
formed many  miracles  by  the  hand  of  Moses,  such  as 
drawing  water  from  a  rock,  feeding  the  people  with 
manna  and  other  food.  Yet  notwithstanding  all  the 
mercies  and  deliverances  the  Israelites  received,  they 
continued  a  '^  stiff-necked  and  rehellious  peopleJ^  "•  Their 
carcasses  fell  in  the  wilderness.''  On  one  occasion  they 
murmured  directly  against  God ;  they  complained  that 
they  had  no  bread  nor  water;  nothing  but  manna 
which  rained  from  heaven,  which  they  loathed.  God 
then  sent  fiery  serpents,  from  whose  bite  many  died. 
Moses  prayed  for  them ;  God  directed  that  a  serpent 
of  brass  should  be  erected  and  whoever  should  look 
upon  it  should  live.  The  people  were  then  drawing 
near  Canaan.  Moses  knowing  that  they  should  enter 
gave  them  his  parting  blessing.  Then  he  ascended  the 
mountain  of  Nebo,  to  the  top  of  Pisgah,  where  God 


THE    PICTURE    TREACHER.  57 

showed  him  the  promised  land,  but  would  not  permit 
him  to  enter  therein.  And  he  died  there.  ^^  And 
Moses  was  an  hundred  and  twenty  years  old  when  he 
died;  his  eye  was  not  dim,  nor  his  natural  force 
abated." 

All  the  great  men  of  sacred  or  profane  history 
appear  to  have  had  some  prominent  virtue  in  their 
character :  We  speak  of  Abraham's  faith  ;  Joseph's 
conscientiousness  ;  David's  contrition  ;  Jonafhan's  gener- 
osity a'ud  friendship  ;  Elijah's  zeal,  and  Job's  patience  ; 
but  what  do  we  regard  as  the  best  quality  of  Moses  ? 
It  is  difficult  to  decide.  It  is  not  firmness,  it  is  not  dis- 
interestedness, it  is  not  in  meekness  or  humility.  *'  It 
is  not,''  says  a  writer,  *^  any  one  of  these ;  it  is  all  of 
them."  And  we  may  close  in  the  words  of  inspira- 
tion :  ^^  And  there  arose  not  a  prophet  in  Israel  like  unto 
Moses,  whom  the  Lord  knew  face  to  face,  in  all  the 
signs  and  wonders  which  the  Lord  sent  him  to  do.  .  ." 


GAMBLma  AccoRDma  to  law. 

The  engraving  is  made  from  recollection  of  a  lottery 
drawing  which  took  place  in  the  old  State  House  at 
New  Haven,  Conn.,  May  13th,  1824.  It  is  a  good 
representation  of  the  lottery  drawings  advertised  at  the 
time  in  the  public  prints,  as  well  as  a  good  internal 
view  of  the  old  Connecticut  State  House. 

The  numerals  or  figures  were  written  or  printed  on 
a  half  sheet  of  common  writing  paper,  and  then  drop- 
ped one  by  one  in  a  circular  wooden  box,  or  rather 
wheel,  which  was  revolved  by  a  crank  like  a  grind- 
stone. 

One  of  the  managers  is  seen  holding  up  to  the  view 
of  the  audience  a  half  sheet  of  paper  having  the  figure 
6  and  the  word  six  written  across  it  to  distinguish  it 
from  that  having  9  upon  it.  Each  of  the  numbers 
were  in  turn  thus  held  up  to  the  gaze  of  the  people 

a* 


58  ROYAL    ROAD    TO    HAPPINESS;    OR 

before  being  rolled  up  and  tied  by  a  string  and  drop- 
ped in  the  box. 

This  completed,  the  hollow  wheel  was  turned  by  the 
crank  until  the  numbers  were  thoroughly  mixed.  Then 
the  boy  shown  thrust  his  hand  into  the  wheel,  under 
the  order  to  draw  out  the  first  roll  he  happened  to 
touch.  This  he  did  with  a  smiling  face,  forming  a 
marked  contrast  to  the  anxious  expressions  seen  on  the 
countenances  of  the  people,  most  of  whom  had  invested 
in  the  lottery  and  were  depending  upon  the  chance 
grasp  of  a  seven-year-old  boy  for  a  stroke  of  good  or 
ill  fortune. 

A  few  numbers  only — according  to  the  scheme — 
were  drawn  from  the  wheel,  and  each  number  as  taken 
out  unrolled  and  the  lucky  figure  revealed  to  the  vision 
as  well  as  vociferated  to  the  anxious,  breathless  crowd 
by  the  head  manager.  The  whole  operation  was  over 
in  about  five  minutes  as  advertised.*  This  especial 
lottery  had  been  thus  advertised  in  a  prfper  of  the 
city — the  Columhian  Begister: 

On  Thursday,  the  13th  instant,  at  12  o'clock,  agreeable  to  pre- 
vious notice,  Foutune's  Wheel  will  be  put  in  motion  on  the 
Public  Square,  should  the  weather  be  fair,  if  not  at  the  State 
House,  when  the  numbers  requisite  to  determine  the  fate  of  all 
tickets  in  the  Connecticut  State  Lottery,  First-class  new  Series, 
will  be  drawn  out  in  five  minutes. 

Hezektah  Howe,        Johi^  Beach,  )  lyfonno-Pr^^ 

George  Bowen,  Roger  S.  Skinner,    f  ^^^^^ge^^s. 

New  Haveu,  May  8,  1824. 

The  scheme  of  second  class,  Kew  Series,  of  the  Connecticut 
State  Lottery  will  contain  4,060  tickets,  1,760  Prizes  and  2,300 
blanks.  The  total  amount  of  the  Prizes  will  be  |20,300.  The 
highest  prize  will  be  $3,000,  the  next  $1,000,  the  next  $500  ; 
following  these  will  be  nine  prizes  each  of  $200,  the  next  25  tick- 
ets $25  each,  the  next  25  tickets  $12  each,  and  finally  the  remain- 
ing 1,500  tickets  will  be  entitled  to  $6  each.  Prizes  payable 
forty  days  after  drawing,  subject  as  usual  to  a  deduction  of  fifteen 
per  cent. — A  considerable  quantity  of  the  tickets  each  of  which  is 
warranted  to  draw  $30. 

I^^Price  of  Tickets,  Five  Dollars  each,  but  soon  will  rise. 


THE   PICTURE    PREACHEE. 


59 


,11  iiiifi^ 


llflllllliiiiiiiiliiiiiiiitB^^ 


llt^BSSiii 

HHi;!!iii!!!i!!!iiii;ii:ii:il««::!!iil!iiii!lii:ii: 


X, 


GAMBLING  ACCORDING  TO  LAW. 


JSut  they  that  will  be  rich  fall  into  temptation  and  a  snare,  and 
into  many  foolish  and  hurtful  lusts,  which  drown  men  in,  destruc- 

tion  and  perdition,     I.  Tim.  vi.  9. Thou  that  preachest  a  man 

should  not  steal,  dost  thou  steal  f    Rom.  ii.  21. [Some  affirm 

that  we  say)  Let  us  do  evil  that  good  may  come;  whose  damna- 
tion is  just,     Rom.  iii.  8. Happy  is  he  that  condemneth  not 

himself  in  that  thing  which  he  alloweth.     Rom.  xiv.  2^. Study 

to  be  quiet,  and  to  do  your  own  business,  and  to  work  with  your 
own  hands.  I.  Thess.  iv.  11. — '-J3e  content  with  such  things  as 
ye  have.     Heb.  xiil  5. 


60         ROYAL  ROAD  TO  HAPPINESS;  OR 

At  that  period  ^Hhe  lottery"  was  patronized  by  all 
classes,  the  first  people  in  all  communities  discovering 
no  especial  harm  in  freely  investing  in  tickets.  Pro- 
visions were  made  to  entice  the  humblest,  the  poorest 
of  people  to  part  with  their  hard-won  earnings  by  sell- 
ing parts  of  tickets  as  quarters,  eighths  and  even  six- 
teenths, which  last  could  be  bought  for  a  trifling  sum, 
and  might  bring  to  a  fortunate  possessor  the  same 
proportion  of  a  large  prize. 

Lotteries  were  originally  instituted  for  the  raising 
of  the  revenue  of  a  country,  when  the  chance  of  draw- 
ing prizes  was  given  to  all  who  had  contributed.  The 
lottery  was  known  to  the  ancient  Romans.  The  terai 
lottery  is  from  "the  Lotto,"  in  Venice.  The  first 
lottery  established  in  Great  Britain  was  in  1569,  and 
the  profits  devoted  to  the  repair  of  certain  harbors  in 
the  Kingdom.  Private  lotteries  were  afterwards  insti- 
tuted, but  the  spirit  of  gambling  was  so  increased, 
producing  so  much  domestic  misery,  that  in  the  reign 
of  Queen  Anne  they  were  suppressed  as  a  public  nui- 
sance. And  so  successively  in  different  countries  as 
they,  by  their  mischievous  tendency  and  the  domestic 
woe  they  produced,  aroused  public  sentiment  against 
them,  they  were  suppressed.  At  ihat  time  lotteries 
had  been  suppressed  in  France;  but  were  active  in 
America. 

In  the  very  year  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence, 
1776,  Congress  established  lotteries.  At  the  beginning 
of  this  century  gambling  by  lotteries  was  authorized 
by  the  legislatures  of  different  States,  granting  licenses 
for  this  purpose.  When  any  public  improvement 
was  to  be  made,  such  as  deepening  the  harbor,  erect- 
ing a  public  building,  constructing  a  bridge  over  an 
important  stream,  etc.,  etc.,  it  was  regarded  as  the  most 
direct  and  easy  way  of  accomplishing  the  purpose  to 
grant  to  some  company  the  right  to  sell  lottery  tickets. 
On  all  those  which  drew  prizes  a  deduction  of  15  per 
cent,  on  every  prize  was  made.     Tliis  was  applied  to 


THE    PICTURE    PREACHER.  61 

meet  the  expenses  of  the  drawing,  selling  tickets,  etc., 
and  after  this  the  remainder  of  the  15  per  cent,  went 
to  the  improvement  for  which  the  lottery  had  been 
instituted.  Each  object  usually  required  several  suc- 
cessive lottery  drawings  before  a  sufficient  amount 
could  be  raised ;  sometimes  the  same  lottery  would  be 
continued  for  years. 

Gambling  by  lottery  is  the  most  mischievous,  most 
pernicious  of  all  forms  of  gambling,  as  thereby  whole 
communities  can  at  once  become  demoralized  with  the 
strife  after  ill-gotten  gains.  It  is  about  the  only  form  of 
gambling  that  can  be  called  solitary  gambling ;  it  can 
easily  be  practised  in  secret,  no  partner  or  companion 
being  required.  Beside  individuals,  multitudes  of 
families  have  been  reduced  from  affluence  to  penury 
by  the  passion  of  their  heads  for  lottery  tickets,  prac- 
tised, may  be,  often  times  in  secret. 

Even  those  successful  in  drawing  large  prizes  have 
been,  as  a  rule,  more  unfortunate  than  those  who  drew 
nothing ;  for  they  have  generally  been  ruined  by  the 
possession  of  ill-gotten,  unearned  gains,  which  were 
soon  lost  because  so  easily  obtained,  and  this  usually 
in  renewed  ventures  in  lotteries,  the  passion  for  tickets 
growing  into  an  infatuation,  disordering  the  intellect 
and  akin  to  insanity.  Clerks  and  others  in  places  of 
trust  have,  through  this  passion,  been  tempted  to  use 
their  employer's  money  or  trust  funds,  and  thus  on  dis- 
covery irretrievably  ruined.  The  felon's  cell  has  been 
the  fate  of  some  such. 

In  communities  where  lotteries  have  been  suppressed, 
the  savings  banks  at  once  were  lifted  into  an  unprece- 
dented state  of  prosperity,  showing  that  the  great 
middling  classes  of  working  people,  the  very  founda- 
tion of  society,  had  previously  largely  wasted  the 
accumulations  of  their  industry  in  the  seductive,  most 
nefarious  forms  of  gambling, — the  lottery.  To  ruin 
individuals,  establish  gambling  houses;  to  ruin  entire 
communities,  establish  lotteries. 


62         ROYAL  ROAD  TO  HAPPINESS;  OB 

At  the  present  time  lotteries  are  prohibited  in  most 
of  the  States  of  the  Union;  but  in  defiance  of  the  law, 
a  very  low  form  of  it  exists  in  our  cities  under  the  name 
of  policy  gambling,  and  secretly  conducted.  By  this, 
multitudes  of  the  poor  classes  are  wronged  of  their 
hard  earnings  by  what  is  worse  than  highway  robbery, 
because  in  addition  to  losing  their  money  the  miserable 
victims  become  demoralized  by  its  practice. 


THE  LION,  BEAR  AND  THE  FOX. 

A  lion  and  a  bear  fell  together  by  the  ears  over  the 
carcass  of  a  fawn  which  they  found  in  the  forest,  their 
title  to  him  being  to  be  decided  by  force  of  arms.  The 
battle  was  severe  and  tough  on  both  sides,  and  they 
held  it  out,  tearing  and  woiTying  one  another  so  long 
that,  what  with  wounds  and  fatigue,  they  were  so  faint 
and  weary  they  were  not  able  to  strike  another  stroke. 
Thus,  while  they  lay  upon  the  ground,  panting  and 
lolling  out  their  tongues,  a  fox  chanced  to  pass  by  that 
way,  who,  perceiving  how  the  case  stood,  very  impu- 
dently stepped  in  between  them,  seized  the  booty 
which  they  had  all  this  while  been  contending  for,  and 
carried  it  off.  The  two  combatants,  who  lay  and  be- 
held all  this,  without  having  strength  enough  to  stir 
and  prevent  it,  were  only  wise  enough  to  make  this 
reflection:  Behold  the  fruits  of  our  strife  and  conten- 
tion !  that  villain,  the  fox,  bears  away  the  prize,  and 
we  ourselves  have  deprived  each  other  of  the  power  to 
take  it  from  him. 

Application. — Wlien  people  go  to  law  about  an 
uncertain  title,  and  have  spent  their  whole  estate  in  the 
contest,  nothing  is  more  common  than  for  some  little 
pettifogofing  attoraey  to  step  in  and  to  secure  it  to  him- 
self.    The  very  name  of  law  seems  to  imply  equity 


THE   PICTUKE   PREACHER. 


63 


THE  LION,  BEAR,  AND  THE  FOX 


From  whence  come  wars  and  fightings  among  you  f  Come  they 
not  hence^  even  of  your  lusts  that  war  in  your  members  ?  Ye  lust 
and  ye  have  not,  ....  and  desire  to  have  and  cannot  obtain. 

James  iv.  1,  2. The  wicked  and  him  that  loveth  violence,  his 

soul  hateth.    Psa.  xi.  5. The  beginning  of  strife  is  as  when  one 

letteth  ont  water  ;  therefore  leave  off  contention  before  it  be,  med- 
dled with,     Prov.  xvU.  14. 


64  ROYAL   ROAD    TO   HAPPINESS;    OR 

and  justice,  and  that  is  the  bait  which  has  drawn  in 
many  to  their  ruin.  Others  are  excited  by  their  pas- 
sions, and  care  not  if  they  destroy  themselves,  so  they 
do  but  see  their  enemy  perish  with  them.  But,  if  we 
lay  aside  prejudice  and  folly,  and  think  calmly  of  the 
matter,  we  shall  find  that  going  to  law  is  not  the  best 
way  of  deciding  differences-  about  property ;  it  being 
often  much  safer  to  trust  to  the  arbitration  of  two  or 
three  honest,  sensible  neighbors,  than,  at  a  vast  expense 
of  money,  time  and  trouble,  to  run  through  the 
tedious,  frivolous  forms,  with  which,  by  the  artifice  of 
greedy  lawyers,  a  court  of  judicature  is  contrived  to 
be  attended. 

It  has  been  said  that  if  mankind  would  lead  moral, 
virtuous  lives,  there  would  be  no  occasion  for  divines ; 
if  they  w^ould  but  live  temperately  and  soberly,  that 
they  would  never  want  physicians ;  both  which  asser- 
tions, though  true  in  the  main,  are  yet  expressed  in  too 
great  a  latitude.  But  one  may  venture  to  afiirm,  that 
if  men  preserved  a  strict  regard  to  justice  and  honesty 
in  their  dealings  with  each  other,  and  upon  any  mis- 
take or  misapprehension,  were  always  ready  to  refer 
the  matter  to  disinterested  umpires  of  acknowledged 
judgment  and  integrity,  they  could  never  have  the 
least  occasion  for  lawyers  to  settle  their  quarrels. 
When  people  have  gone  to  law  it  is  rarely  to  be  found 
but  one  or  both  parties  are  either  stupidly  obstinate,  or 
rashly  inconsiderate.  For  if  the  case  should  happen 
to  be  so  intricate  that  a  man  of  common  sense  could 
not  distinguish  who  had  the  best  title,  how  easy  would 
it  be  to  have  the  opinion  of  the  best  counsel  in  the 
land,  and  agree  to  determine  it  by  that  ?  If  it  should 
appear  dubious  even  after  that,  how  much  better  would 
it  be  to  divide  the  thing  in  dispute  rather  than  go  to 
law,  and  hazard  the  losing,  not  only  of  the  whole,  but 
costs  and  damages  into  the  bargain?  And  yet  men 
seem  to  regard  it  as  unmanly  and  unwise  to  settle  dis- 
putes amicably.    While  they  fight  the  fox  gets  the  game. 


THE    PICTURE    PREACHER.      '  65 

VULGARITY. 

But  few  words  are  in  our  language  that  have  a  more 
grating  sound  in  the  ears  of  those  who  lay  claim  to 
good  breeding  than  the  word  vulgarity,  insomuch  that 
many  a  one  had  rather  be  thought  vicious  than  vulgar. 
And  what  is  vulgarity  I  This  is  rather  a  puzzling 
question,  for  the  word  is  nowhere  clearly  defined,  nor 
is  it  capable  of  being  exactly  marked  out  by  a  defini- 
tion. 

Profaneness,  filthiness  of  speech,  and  a  clownish 
awkwardness  of  manners,  are  only  the  grosser  parts  of 
vulgarity,  which  extends  to  almost  innumerable  par- 
ticulars of  human  conduct,  and  not  unfrequently  into 
the  fashionable  ranks  of  society.  But  though  it  is  in 
a  manner  undefinable,  it  admits  ol  being  explained,  as 
it  were,  by  piecemeal;  and  this  may  be  the  better 
done  by  contrasting  it  with  a  quality  which  everybody 
of  any  decency  of  mind  and  character,  professes  to 
hold  in  respect. 

Vulgarity,  then,  is  the  direct  opposite  of  courteous- 
ness.  But  here  again  arises  a  question — JVhat  is 
courteousness  f  Your  dictionary  will  tell  you  it  implies 
something  elegant— -something  beyond  the  reach  of 
plain  men  and  women  of  the  common  sort.  But  it  is 
not  so.  When  St.  Paul,  addressing  himself  to  Chris- 
tians of  all  worldly  grades  and  classes,  even  down  to 
menials  or  slaves ;  when  addressing  himself  to  the 
lowest  as  well  as  to  the  highest,  he  bade  them  ^^be 
courteous."  Assuredly,  he  did  not  mean  that  they 
must  needs  all  be  of  elegant  manners.  No,  it  is  full 
likely  that  Paul  himself  did  not  excel  greatly  in  that 
particular;  it  was  not,  surely,  the  elegance  of  his  man- 
ner that  made  Felix  tremble.  Courteousness  must 
mean,  therefore,  a  something  which  is  in  the  reach  of 
all  sorts  of  people ;  and  in  its  primary  and  best  sense 
it  may  be  understood  to  mean  exactly  such  a  behavior 
as  spontaneously   springs    from   a   heart   warm    with 


66  ROYAL  ROAD  TO  HAPPINESS;  OR 

benevolence ;  while,  on  the  contrary,  as  respects  peo- 
ple of  some  rank  in  life,  it  is  the  growth  of  cold  self- 
ishness always,  and  often  of  selfishness  and  narrow- 
ness of  intellect  combined.  Vulgarity,  in  some  shape 
or  other,  betrays  itself  as  clearly  at  the  very  top  as  at 
the  very  bottom  of  the  scale  of  life. 

Cardinal  de  Retz  remarks  of  Cardinal  Richelieu,  a 
most  puissant  prime  minister  of  France,  ^*  that  he  loved 
to  rally  others  but  could  not  bear  to  be  ralHed  him- 
self." So,  also,  it  is  said  of  the  great  Frederick,  of 
Prussia,  that  his  manner  was  to  harrow  up  the  feelings 
of  his  courtiers  and  attendants,  by  breaking  his  cutting 
jokes  upon  them  without  measure  or  mercy,  well  know- 
ing that  they  durst  not  ofiPer  any  retort. 

These  two  instances  clearly  show  that  vulgarity  may 
be  found  in  the  palace  as  well  as  in  the  cottage.  The 
like  may  be  frequently  seen  among  the  little  great, 
many  of  whom  take  a  delight  in  wounding  the  feel- 
ings of  those  below  them,  merely  because  they  are 
below  them — a  detestable  fault,  which  sudden  wealth 
or  sudden  consequence  of  any  kind,  is  peculiarly  apt 
to  draw  after  it. 

I  say  a  detestable  fault,  because  scarcely  anything 
betrays  a  more  reprobate  heart  than  unfeeling,  brutal 
conduct  toward  inferiors,  as  it  usually  springs  from  the 
odious  compound  of  arrogance,  vanity  and  cowardice. 
We  have  no  more  right  wantonly  or  causelessly  to 
wound  the  mind  than  to  wound  the  body  of  a  fel- 
low being;  and  in  many  instances  the  former  is  the 
more  cruel  of  the  two. 

There  are  some  again,  both  men  and  women,  who 
value  themselves  highly  upon  a  coarse  bluntness, 
which  they  themselves  call  downright  honesty  and 
plain  -  heartedness.  ^^We  can't  flatter — not  we;  tve 
must  speak  the  truth — ^if  they  will  take  it  so — if  not, 
we're  plain." 

But  hark,  not  so  fast.  Pause  a  moment,  and  exam- 
ine your  own  hearts,  and  perchance    you  may  find 


THE   PICTURE    PREACHER.  67 

that  your  manner  partakes  more  of  pride  or  sour- 
ness than  of  benevolence.  If  you  wish  to  amend  the 
faulty,  assuredly  this  is  not  the  way.  Again,  have 
you  no  faults  at  all  of  your  own  ?  Hardly  will  you 
pretend  to  absolute  immunity  in  that  respect.  Well, 
then,  ask  your  own  hearts  if  you  are  willing  to 
receive  the  same  measure  which  you  mete  out  to 
others. 

If  you  can  bear,  in  all  cases,  to  be  told  roundly 
of  your  own  faults,  even  the  minutest  of  them,  then, 
not  otherwise,  you  may  seem  fairly  entitled  to  the 
privilege  of  giving  it  off  so  roundly  to  others. 

Then,  and  not  otherwise,  may  you  be  at  liberty  to 
deal  out  your  bitter  pills  without  any  regard  at  all 
to  gilding  or  sweetening  them. 

In  short,  anybody  that  knows  the  world  might 
easily  show  that  the  family  of  the  vulgars  has  branched 
out  into  a  great  many  divisions  and  sub-divisions,  one 
or  the  other  of  which  embraces  not  a  few  who  would 
be  very  loth  to  own  themselves  members  of  that  unhon- 
ored  household. 


ELEVATION  OF  WOMAN  BY  CHRISTIANITY. 

In  all  ages  of  the  world  the  greatest  portion  of 
sorrow  and  hardship  has  fallen  to  the  lot  of  the  female 
part  of  our  race. 

Among  all  the  numerous  savage  tribes,  in  what- 
ever quarter  of  the  earth,  or  in  the  islands  of  the  seas, 
females  are  despised  and  degraded,  and  a  wife  is  but  a 
little  better  conditioned  than  a  bond  slave.  **  While 
the  man  passes  his  days  in  idleness  and  amusement, 
the  woman  is  condemned  to  incessant  toil.  Tasks  are 
imposed  upon  her  without  mercy,  and  services  without 
complacence  or  gratitude." 

The  laws  and  customs  of  Mohammedanism  as  well 
as  of  Paganism,  degrade  and   enslave  the  women ;  a 


68  ROYAL   ROAD   TO    HAPPINESS;   OR 

degradation  and  slavery  of  vast  extent,  since  by  far  the 
greater  number  of  the  human  kind  are  either  Moham- 
medans or  Pagans.  Among  the  North  American 
Indians  the  women  suffer  so  much  from  oppression  that 
suicide  is  common. 

It  is  only  in  Christian  countries  that  women  rise  to 
their  proj^er  rank  and  are  treated  as  companions  and 
equals.  For  this  happy  improvement  in  their  condi- 
tion they  are  indebted  to  Christianity  which,  as  well  by 
humanizing  and  purifying  the  heart,  as  by  the  prohibi- 
tion of  polygamy,  has  loosened  the  bonds  of  their 
captivity,  and,  at  the  same  time,  adorned  them  with 
virtues  the  most  estimable  and  amiable. 

The  New  Testament  is  the  great  charter  of  the 
rights  of  women ;  and  not  only  the  great  charter  of  their 
rights  but  the  unerring  directory  of  their  duties,  and 
the  choice  cabinet,  as  it  were,  of  their  most  precious 
ornaments.  As  the  benevolent  system  of  Christianity 
frees  them  from  vassalage,  and  exalts  their  rank  in 
society,  so  it  inspires  them  at  the  same  time  with  a 
taste  for  what  is  morally  excellent,  and  virtuous  and 
lovely.  Nor  is  it  a  little  remarkable  that  of  the  relig- 
ion which  so  ennobles  their  sex,  they  are  the  first,  the 
most  general  and  among  the  most  effectual  teachers. 
It  is  from  women  that  almost  our  whole  sex,  as  well  as 
theirs,  receives  its  earliest  instruction  in  religion  and 
morality.  Though  generally  they  are  neither  mission- 
aries abroad  nor  preachers  at  home,  yet,  as  spreaders 
and  promulgators  of  Christianity,  they  are  hardly  less 
useful  than  those  venerable  orders  of  men.  Throughout 
all  Christendom  as  preceptresses,  as  mothers,  and  in  their 
various  domestic  relations,  they  have  the  moulding  of 
the  minds  of  future  men  as  well  as  of  future  women, 
during  those  infantile  years,  in  which  the  mind  is  com- 
parable to  soft  wax,  and  when  the  impressions  which 
are  made  upon  it  are  the  most  indelible.  So  that  it 
would  not,  perhaps,  be  extravagant  to  believe  that  a 
full  half  of  the  Christian  world  has  been  christianized 


THE   PICTURE    PREACHER.  69 

or  at  first  imbued  with  Cliristian  principles,  by  means 
of  female  teachers. 

All  along,  from  the  earliest  ages  of  Christianity, 
down  to  later  times,  there  have  been  women,  highly 
distinguished  for  their  pious  benevolence,  and  active 
beneficence;  but,  not  having  learned  to  form  them- 
selves into  societies  for  joint  acts  of  charity,  their  soli- 
itary  or  individual  efforts  could  afford  relief  to  but  few. 
For  the  present  illustrious  epoch  in  the  christianized 
world  has  been  reserved  the  honor  of  multiplying  and 
extending  far  beyond  all  former  examples,  their 
humane  plans  and  institutions.  Multiplied  as  these 
have  been,  and  multiplying  as  they  are  likely  to  be, 
none  can  conceive  the  benefits  of  the  little  streamlets 
issuing  in  such  innumerable  directions  from  this  single 
source — benefits  not  only  to  the  receiver,  but  also  to 
the  giver. 

The  occupations  of  charity  nourish  and  strengthen 
some  of  the  best  feelings  of  the  heart,  and  at  the  same 
time,  are  rewarded  wdth  the  enjoyment  of  a  higher 
pleasure  than  the  hoards  of  wealth  or  its  pageantries 
can  ev  er  bestow.  "  Wiiat  wonders  and  what  pleasures 
has  civilization  procured  to  mankind."  So  the  philos- 
opher exclaimed,  and  not  without  reason.  The  civilized 
man  possesses  manifold  more  enjoyments  and  stands 
vastly  higher  in  the  scale  of  human  beings  than  the 
naked  savage,  or  the  rude  barbarian. 

But  it  is  not  mere  civilization,  nor  mere  learning 
that  has  imbued  the  heart  with  the  genuine  feeling  of 
humanity.  See  on  the  page  of  history,  only  fifteen 
centuries  back,  the  ladies  of  Rome,  that  proud  mistress 
of  the  world ;  see  them  seated  in  the  amphitheatre  as 
delighted  spectators  of  the  mortal  combats  of  gladia- 
tors, feasting  their  eyes  with  the  bloody  carnage,  and 
their  ears  with  the  groans  of  the  dying. 

And  now,  see  on  the  other  hand ;  tens  and  hundreds 
of  thousands  of  females  of  the  present  age,  formed 
into  societies  for    the  alleviation  of   human  distress. 


70  ROYAL   ROAD    TO    HAPPINESS;    OB 

For  the  purpose  of  ministering  to  the  widow,  of  sus- 
taining tlie  orphans,  of  clothing  the  naked,  of  feeding 
the  hungry,  or  **  healing  the  broken  and  weak." 

Behold  these  objects  of  striking  contrast,  and  remem- 
ber that  the  former  had  quite  as  much  of  polish,  as  much 
of  elegance  and  as  much  of  learning,  as  the  latter. 

And  what  is  it  then,  but  the  influence  of  Christian 
principles,  that  has  made  such  an  astonishing  differ- 
ence between  them  in  point  of  taste  and  sensibility  ? 

A  KoBLE  Toast. 

It  was  a  grand  day  in  the  chivalric  times.  The  wine 
circulated  around  tlie  board  in  a  noble  hall,  and  the 
sculptured  walls  rang  with  sentiment  and  song.  The 
lady  of  each  knightly  heart  was  pledged  by  name,  and 
many  a  syllable  significant  of  loveliness  had  been 
uttered,  until  it  came  to  St.  Leon's  when,  lifting  the 
sparkling  cup  on  high : 

**I  drink  to  tliee,"  he  said, 
"Whose  image  never  may  depart; 
Deep  graven  on  a  gratetiil  heart, 
Till  memory  is  dead. 

To  one  whose  love  for  me  shall  last 
When  lighter  passions  long  have  past, 

So  holy  'tis  and  true , 
To  one  whose  love  has  longer  dwelt, 
More  deeply  fixed,  more  keenly  felt 

Than  any  pledged  by  you." 

Each  guest  upstarted  at  the  word, 
And  laid  a  hand  upon  a  sword 

With  fiery,  flashing  eye ; 
And  Stanley  said,  "  We  crave  the  name 
Proud  knight,  of  this  most  peerless  dame, 

Whose  love  you  count  so  high." 

St.  Leon  paused,  as  if  he  would 

Not  breathe  her  name,  in  careless  mood 

Thus  lightly  to  another; 
Then  bent  his  noble  head  as  though 
To  give  that  word  the  reverence  due, 

Then  gently  said,  '*My  Mother." 


THE    PICTUKE    PREACHER.  71 

THE  JUDICIOUS  LION. 

A  lion,  having  taken  a  young  bullock,  stood  over 
and  was  going  to  devour  it,  when  a  thief  stepped  in  and 
cried  halves  with  him.  **No,  friend,"  says  the  lion, 
"  you  are  too  apt  to  take  what  is  not  your  due,  and 
therefore  I  shall  have  nothing  to  say  to  you.''  By 
chance,  a  poor,  honest  traveler  happened  to  come  that 
way,  and  seeing  the  lion,  modestly  and  timorously 
withdrew,  intending  to  go  another  way :  upon  which 
the  generous  beast,  with  a  courteous,  affable  behavior, 
desired  him  to  come  forward  and  partake  with  him  in 
that  to  which  his  modesty  and  humility  had  given  him 
so  good  a  title.  Then,  dividing  the  prey  into  two 
equal  parts,  and  feasting  himself  upon  one  of  them,  he 
retired  into  the  woods  and  left  the  place  clear  for  the 
honest  man  to  come  in  for  his  share. 

Application. — There  is  not  one  but  will  readily 
allow  this  behavior  of  the  lion  to  have  been  commend- 
able and  just,  notwithstanding  which,  greediness  and 
importunity  never  fail  to  thrive  and  attain  their  ends, 
while  modesty  starves  and  is  forever  poor.  The  lion's 
nobility  has  too  few  imitators. 

Notfiing  is  more  disagreeable  to  quiet,  reasonable 
men  than  those  that  are  petulant,  forward,  and  craving 
in  soliciting  for  their  favors ;  and  yet  favors  are  seldom 
bestoAved  but  upon  such  as  have  extorted  them  by 
these  teasing,  offensive  means.  Every  patron,  wlien  he 
speaks  his  real  thoughts,  is  ready  to  acknowledge  that 
the  modest  man  has  the  best  title  to  his  esteem ;  yet  he 
suffers  himself,  too  often,  to  be  prevailed  upon,  merely 
by  outrageous  noise,  to  give  that  to  a  shameless, 
assuming  fellow,  which  he  knows  to  be  justly  due  to 
the  silent,  unapplying,  modest  man. 

Thi\s  we  often  find  the  names  of  men  of  little  merit 
mentioned  in  public  prints,  as  advanced  to  considerable 
stations,  who  are  incapable  of  being  known  to  the 
public  any  other  way 


72  ROYAL   ROAD   TO   HAPPINESS;   OB 

THE  PORCUPINE  AND  THE  SNAKES. 

A  porcupine,  wanting  to  shelter  himself,  desired  a 
nest  of  snakes  to  give  him  admittance  into  their  cave. 
They  were  prevailed  upon,  and  let  him  in  accordingly, 
but  were  so  annoyed  with  his  sharp  prickly  quills  that 
they  soon  repented  of  their  easy  compliance,  and  en- 
treated the  porcupine  to  withdraw  and  leave  them  their 
hole  to  themselves.  ^^  No,"  says  he,  ^4et  them  quit  the 
place  that  don't  like  it ;  for  my  part  I  am  well  enough 
satisfied  as  I  am." 

Application. — Some  people  are  of  so  brutish,  inhos- 
pitable tempers  that  there  is  no  living  with  them 
without  greatly  incommoding  ourselves.  Therefore, 
before  we  enter  into  any  degree  of  friendship,  alliance, 
or  partnership,  with  any  person  whatever,  we  should 
thoroughly  consider  his  nature  and  qualities,  his  cir- 
cumstances and  his  humor.  There  ought  to  be  some- 
thing in  each  of  these  respects  totally  to  correspond 
with  our  own  measures,  to  suit  our  genius,  and  adapt 
itself  to  the  size  and  proportion  of  our  desires;  other- 
wise our  associations,  of  whatever  kind,  may  prove  the 
greatest  plagues  of  our  life. 

Young  men  are  very  apt  to  run  into  this  error ;  and 
being  warm  in  all  their  passions,  throw  open  their  aiTQS 
at  once  and  admit  into  greatest  intimacy  persons  whom 
they  know  little  of,  but  by  false  and  uncertain  lights. 
Thus  they  sometimes  receive  a  viper  into  their  bosom 
instead  of  a  friend,  and  take  a  porcupine  for  a  consort, 
with  whom  they  are  obliged  to  cohabit,  though  she 
may  prove  a  thorn  in  their  sides  as  long  as  they 
live. 

A  true  friend  is  one  of  the  greatest  blessings  in  life ; 
therefore,  to  be  mistaken  or  disappointed  of  such 
enjoyment,  when  we  hope  to  be  in  full  possession  of  it, 
must  be  a  great  mortification.  So  that  we  cannot  be 
too  nice  and  scrupulous  in  our  choice  of  those  who  are 
to  be  our  companions  for  life ;  for  they  must  have  but 


THE   PICTURE   PREACHER. 


73 


THE  PORCUPINE  AND  THE  SNAKES. 


Be  not  unequally  yoked,     2  Cor.  vi.  14. 3IaJce  no  friendship 

with  an  angry  man^  .  .  .  Benot  one  of  them  that  strike  hands.  Pro  v. 

xxil  24,  2G. Can  a  man  take  fire  in  his  bosom,  and  his  clothes 

not  be  burned?     Can  one  goujfon  hot  coals  and  his  feet  not  be 

burned?     Prov.  vi.  27,  28. And  he  hath  requited  me  evil  for 

good,     1  Sam.  xxv.  21. TJiey  have  rewardedevil  for  good,  and 

hatred  for  my  love,    Psa.  cix.  5. They  also  that  reward  evil  for 

good  are  my  adversaries;  because  I  follow  the  thing  that  good  is. 
Psa.  xxxviii.  20.      ' 


74  ROYAL   ROAD    TO   HAPPINESS;    OR 

a  poor  shallow  notion  of  friendship,  who  intend  to  take 
it,  like  a  lease,  for  a  term  of  years  only. 

In  a  word,  the  doctrine  which  this  fable  teaches  is  to 
prepare  us  against  being  injured  or  deceived  by  rash 
combination  of  any  sort  The  manner  of  the  man  we 
desire  for  a  friend;  of  the  woman  we  like  for  a  wife,  of 
the  person  with  whom  we  would  jointly  manage  any 
concert  measures  for  the  advancement  of  our  temporal 
interest,  should  be  narrowly  and  cautiously  inspected 
before  we  embark  with  them  in  the  same  vessel,  lest 
we  should  alter  our  mind  when  it  is  too  late  and  think 
of  regaining  the  shore  after  we  have  launched  out  of 
our  depth. 


THE   COLLIER  AND  FULLER. 

The  Collier  and  Fuller,  being  old  acquaintances, 
happened  upon  a  time  to  meet  together,  and  the  latter, 
being  but  ill-provided  with  a  habitation,  was  invited 
by  the  former  to  come  and  live  in  the  same  house  with 
him.  ^^  I  thank  you,  my  dear  friend,"  replies  the  fuller, 
^^  for -your  kind  offer,  but  it  cannot  be ;  for  if  I  were  to 
dwell  with  you,  whatever  I  should  take  pains  to  scour 
and  make  clean  in  the  morning,  the  dust  of  you  and 
vour  coals  would  blacken  and  defile  as  bad  as  ever 
before  night." 

Application. — It  is  of  no  small  importance  in  life  to 
be  cautious  what  company  we  keep,  and  with  whom 
we  enter  into  friendship,  for  though  we  are  ever  so 
well-disposed  ourselves  and  happen  to  be  ever  so  free 
from  vice  and  debauchery,  yet,  if  those  with  whom  we 
frequently  converse  are  engaged  in  a  lewd,  wicked 
course,  it  will  be  almost  impossible  for  us  to  escape 
being  drawn  in  with  them. 

If  we  are  truly  wise,  and  would  shun  those  siren 
rocks  of  pleasure,  upon   which   so   many   have   split 


THE   PICTURE   PREACHER.  75 

before  us,  we  stould  forbid  ourselves  all  manner  of 
commerce  and  correspondence  with  those  who  are 
steering-  a  course  which  reason  tells  us  is  not  only  not 
for  our  advantage,  but  would  end  in  our  destruction. 

All  the  virtues  we  can  boast  of  will  not  be  suffi- 
cient to  insure  us  if  we  embark  in  bad  company  ;  for 
though  our  philosophy  were  such  as  we  could  preserve 
ourselves  from  being  tainted  and  infected  with  their 
manners,  yet  their  character  would  twist  and  entwine 
itself  along  with  ours,  in  so  intricate  a  fold  that  the 
world  would  not  take  the  trouble  to  unravel  and 
separate  them.  Reputations  are  of  a  subtle,  insinua- 
ting texture  like  water ;  that  which  is  derived  from  the 
clearest  spring,  if  it  chances  to  mix  with  a  foul  cur- 
rent, runs  on  undistinguished  in  one  muddy  stream  for 
the  future,  and  must  forever  partake  of  the  color  and 
condition  of  its  associate. 


THE   FIR-TREE  AND  BRAMBLE. 

A  tall,  straight  fir-tree  that  stood  towering  up  in  the 
midst  of  a  forest,  was  so  proud  of  his  dignity  and  high 
station  that  he  overlooked  the  little  shrubs  which  grew 
beneath  him.  A  bramble  being  one  of  the  inferior 
throng  could  by  no  means  brook  this  haughty  carriage, 
and  therefore  took  him  to  task,  and  desired  to  know 
what  he  meant  by  it.  ^* Because,"  says  the  fir-tree,  ^^  I 
look  upon  myself  as  the  first  tree  for  beauty  and  rank 
of  any  of  the  forest ;  my  sj^ring  top  shoots  up  into  the 
clouds,  and  my  branches  display  themselves  with  a 
perpetual  beauty  and  verdure,  while  you  lie  grov- 
elling upon  the  ground,  liable  to  be  cruslied  by  every 
foot  that  comes  near  you,  and  impoverished  by  ihe 
luxurious  droppings  which  fall  from  my  leaves  "  ^^  All 
this  may  be  true,''  replied  the  bramble,  **but  when  the 
woodman  has  marked  you  out  for  public  use,  and  tlie 
sounding  axe  comes  to  be  applied  to  your  root,  I  am 


76  ilOYAL   KOAD    TO    HAPPINESS;    OR 

mistaken  if  you  will  not  be  glad  to  change  conditions 
with  the  very  worst  of  us." 

Application. — If  the  great  were  to  reckon  upon  the 
mischiefs  to  which  they  are  exposed,  and  poor  private 
men  consider  the  dangers  which  they  many  times 
escape,  purely  by  being  so,  notwithstanding  ttie  seem- 
ing difference  there  appears  to  be  between  them,  it 
would  be  no  such  easy  matter,  as  most  people  think  it, 
to  determine  which  condition  is  the  most  preferable.  A 
reasonable  man  would  declare  in  favor  of  the  latter, 
without  the  least  hesitation,  as  knowing  upon  what  a 
steady  and  safe  security  it  is  established:  for  the 
higher  a  man  is  exalted,  the  fairer  mark  he  gives,  and 
the  more  unlikely  he  is  to  escape  a  storm. 

What  little  foundation,  therefore,  has  the  greatest 
favorite  of  fortune  to  behave  himself  with  insolence 
to  those  below  him,  whose  circumstances,  though  he  is 
so  elated  with  pj-ide  as  to  despise  them,  are,  in  the  eye 
of  every  prudent  man,  more  eligible  than  his  own. 


VANITY,  A  PART  OF  HUMAN  NATURE. 

The  strange  quality,  called  vanity,  is  a  particular 
modification  of  the  general  principles  of  selfishness, 
and  is  exactly  the  reverse  of  the  scriptural  precept — 
^^  Let  each  esteem  the  other  letter  than  himself ^  It 
would  be  difficult  to  define  it,  and  still  more  difficult 
to  describe  it,  in  all  its  various  symptoms.  An  ancient 
philosopher  had  occasion  to  speak  to  his  pupils  of  the 
folly  and  vanity  of  trying  to  surpass  each  other  in 
gay  and  rich  clothing ;  and  if  they  wished  to  become 
and  act  like  wise  men,  they  should  discard  all  such 
vanity  as  seeking  distinction  from  the  quality  of  their 
dress. 

The  philosopher  dwelt  largely  on  the  virtues  of 
moderation  and  humility,  and  exhorted  his  pupils  to 
put  them  into  practice.     One  of  them,  wishing  to  dis- 


THE   PICTURE   PREACHER, 


77 


•■'tiVii  {'m^^^'^rr\:\i:.^l'\vHn:ii\, ,  V 


VANITY,  A  PAKT  OF  HUMAN  NATURE. 


And  he  said,  come  with  me  and  see  my  zeal  for  the  Lord.     11, 

Kings,  X.  16. From,  within,  out  of  the  heart .  .  .  .proceed  evil 

thoughts  ....  pride,  foolishness.    Mark  vii.  21,  22. And  for  a 

pretense  maJce  long  prayer.     Matt,  xxiii.  14. Ihke  heed  that  ye 

do  not  your  alms  before  men.     Matt.  vi.  1. For  they  loved  the 

praise  of  men  more  than  the  praise  of  God.     John  xiii.  43. 

To  what  purpose  is  the  multitude  of  your  sacrifices, ....  bri?}g  no 

more  vain  oblations.     Isa.  i.  11,  13. Hend  your  heart  and  not 

your  garments.     Joel  ii.  16, 


78  ROYAL   ROAD   TO   HAPPINESS;   OB 

tinguish  himself  as  an  obedient  scholar,  came  the  next 
day  into  the  presence  of  his  master  clad  in  poor, 
patched  and  ragged  garments.  *'  Why,  my  son,"  ex- 
claimed the  philosopher  ''  do  you  appear  in  such  a 
mean  garb?  I  fear  my  instructions  have  been  lost 
upon  you,  for  through  your  rags  I  see  your  vanity.^' 

Sometimes  vanity,  to  gain  her  point,  disclaims  even 
her  own  existence.  I  say  it  without  vanity — I  sj^eak 
without  the  least  ostentation,  is  often  made  the  prelude 
to  self-commendation.  In  many  instances,  public  vir- 
tue (as  it  is  called),  would  not  have  gone  so  far  if 
vanity  had  not  borne  it  company.  Jehu,  for  example, 
never  had  driven  so  furiously  to  carry  forward  a  holy 
cause,  had  not  vanity  rode  with  him,  '^  Come,  see  my 
zeal!^'  What  is  called  hberality,  is  oftentimes  noth- 
ing more  than  the  vanity  of  giving.  We  are  exceed- 
ingly prone  to  give  (whenever  we  give;  hoping  to 
receive ;  if  not  in  kind,  at  least  in  credit  and  honor. 
So,  also,  vanity  gives  praise,  in  hopes  of  receiving  it 
back  again  with  interest 

It  is  owing  to  vanity  that  we  voluntarily  endure 
unhappiness  to  appear  happy ;  that  we  rob  ourselves 
of  necessaries  to  appear  as  if  our  circumstances  were 
plentiful  and  affluent.  Vanity  undervalues  itself  with 
a  view  to  extort  praise.  ^' When  any  one,"  says  Dr. 
Johnson,  *^  complains  of  the  want  of  what  he  is  known 
to  possess  in  an  eminent  degree,  he  waits  to  be  contra- 
dicted." And  he  might  have  added,  feels  aggrieved  if 
he  is  not.  This  mode  of  talking  is  common  with  the 
purse-proud. 

Vanity,  in  different  proportions,  variously  directed, 
mixed  up  with  different  elements  and  displaying  itself 
in  different  forms,  appears  to  be  a  universal  quality  or 
principle  in  mankind.  In  a  moderate  degree  this  sin- 
gular quality  in  our  species  may  not  be  inconsistent 
with  real  and  great  moral  excellence  ;  it  is  only  when 
it  becomes  the  master  principle,  that  it  then  taints  all 
the  springs  of  action  in  our  hearts  with  a  moral  plague. 


THE    PICTURE    PREACHER.  79 

THE  FOX  AND  THE  ASS. 

An  ass,  finding  a  lion's  skin,  disguised  himself  with 
it,  and  ranged  about  the  forest  putting  all  the  beasts 
that  saw  him  into  a  bodily  fear.  After  he  had  diverted 
himself  thus  for  some  time,  he  met  a  fox,  and  being 
desirous  to  frighten  him  too,  as  well  as  the  rest,  he 
leaped  at  him  with  some  fierceness,  and  endeavored  to 
imitate  the  roaring  of  the  lion.  ''  Your  humble  ser- 
vant," says  the  fox,  *4f  you  had  held  your  tongue  I 
might  have  taken  you  for  a  lion,  as  others  did ;  but 
now  you  bray,  I  know  who  you  are." 

Application. — This  is  so  trite  and  common  a  subject 
that  there  is  scarce  any  one  who  is  ignorant  of  it.  A 
man  is  known  by  his  words,  as  a  tree  is  by  the  fruit ; 
and  if  we  would  be  apprised  of  the  nature  and  quali- 
ties of  any  one,  let  him  but  discourse  and  he  himself 
will  speak  them  to  us,  better  than  another  can  describe 
them.  We  may,  therefore,  perceive  from  this  fable, 
how  proper  it  is  for  those  to  hold  their  tongues  who 
would  not  discover  the  shallowness  of  their  under- 
standings. 

Asses  and  owls,  unseen,  themselves  betray, 

When  these  attempt  to  hoot,  or  those  to  bray. —  Garth, 

The  deepest  rivers  are  most  silent ;  the  greatest  noise 
is  ever  found  where  there  is  the  least  depth  of  waiter. 
And  it  is  a  true  observation  that  those  who  are  the 
weakest  in  understanding  and  most  slow  of  apprehen- 
sion, are  generally  the  strongest  in  opinion,  and  most 
precipitate  in  uttering  their  crude  conceptions. 


WOMANHOOD. 


The  man  who  expresses  or  feels  a  general  contempt 
of  womankind,  evinces  thereby,  either  that  his  acquaint- 
ance has  been  mostly  with  the  baser  sort,  or  that  his 
heart   is   devoid  of  the   common    sensibilities   of  our 


80  ROYAL  ROAD  TO  HAPPINESS;  OR 

nature.  A  satire  upon  Woman  !  It  is  revolting ;  it  is 
dastardly  and  brutish.  Individuals  are  deserving  of 
the  lash  of  satire,  but  not  the  species. 

Of  women,  as  well  as  of  men,  there  are  the  artful 
and  treacherous,  the  feeling  and  cruel,  the  mischievous, 
the  disgusting,  the  abominable.  The  sex,  nevertheless, 
is  entitled  to  a  high  degree  of  respect,  esteem  and  love. 
Of  one,  in  the  dark,  who  was  the  gloomiest  of  bigots 
and  the  most  ruthless  of  persecutors,  it  is  recorded  that 
^'  he  never  looked  in  the  face  of  a  woman,  or  spoke  to 
one."     In  like  manner, 

"  —  aside  the  devil  turned," 

when  the  first  of  female  form  presented  itself  before 
him.  Woman  was  the  ^4ast  best  gift"  to  man; 
moulded  out  of  that  part  of  his  flesh  and  bone  which 
lay  nearest  the  heart-.  And  what  though  she  was  ? 
Was  she  not  principal,  also,  in  the  restoration  ?  And 
when  the  Divine  Restorer,  born  of  a  woman,  was  in 
poverty  and  need,  who  were  they  that  ministered  to 
him?  Women.  When  the  disciples  had  fled  through 
fear,  who  stood  by,  and  so  deeply  sympathized  in  his 
last  agonies,  undismayed  by  the  ferocious  counte- 
nances of  the  murderous  throng?  Women.  Who,  so 
affectionately,  prepared  the  embalming  spicery,  and 
were  the  first  to  visit  the  sacred  tomb  ?  Women.  To 
whom  have  all  the  after  generations  been  most 
indebted  for  the  pious  culture  of  infancy  and  child- 
hood ? — to  women.  The  Eternal  wisdom  has,  if  I  may 
use  the  expression,  cast  the  minds  of  the  two  sexes  in 
different  moulds,  each  being  destined  to  act  in  a 
sphere  peculiarily  its  own. 

"  For  contemplation  he,  and  valor  formed, 
For  softness  she,  and  sweet,  attractive  grace." 

The  one  is  destined  and  fitted  for  the  more  active 
a,nd  perilous  scenes;  the  other  for  the  duties  and  trials 
of  domestic  life ;  the  one  to  protect,  the  other  to  lean 
on  the  arm  of  her  protector ;  the  one  to  exhibit  the 


THE    PICTURE    PREACHER.  81 

sterner  virtues,  the  other  the  milder ;  the  one  possess- 
ing* more  of  active  courage,  and  the  other,  more  of 
fortitude,  of  resignation,  of  unwearied  patience  and 
more  of  the  benevolent  affections.  This  is  nature^s 
distinctive  line,  which,  on  the  part  of  female  character, 
can  never  be  overleaped  without  producing  disgust  or 
ridicule.  Hence  it  is,  of  all  affectation,  none  is  more 
displeasing  than  a  woman's  affecting  the  spirit  and 
manners  of  the  other  sex.  We  have  a  sort  of  admira- 
tion of  the  heroic  intrepidity  of  the  Spartan  women ; 
of  their  contempt  of  danger,  of  their  stoical  apathy,  or 
rather  exultation,  with  which  they  received  the  news 
of  their  sons  and  husbands  dying  bravely  in  battle. 
We  admire  them  as  prodigies,  but  neither  love  or 
esteem  them  as  women.  And  why  is  it  that  the  atheist- 
ical fair  are  regarded  with  singular  horror  ?  Why  is  the 
foul  oath,  the  heaven-daring  blasphemy,  doubly  horri- 
ble in  tlie  ear  of  decency,  when  proceeding  from  the 
lips  of  woman  ?  It  is  because  we  contrast  the  outrage 
with  attributes  of  timidity,  gentleness,  delicacy  and 
sensibility,  belonging  more  peculiarly  to  the  sex. 

The  most  attractive  graces  of  the  female  character 
are  not  the  artificial  and  showy  ones,  but  those  of  a 
meek  and  quiet  spirit,  and  of  beneficent  dispositions, 
guided  by  moral  principles  and  the  discretion  of  sound 
sense :  in  a  word,  graces  the  same  that  our  holy  reli- 
gion inculcates  and  inspires. 

How  much  soever  woman  contributes  to  refine  and 
amplify  the  innocent  pleasures  of  health  and  prosper- 
ity, yet  still  more  does  she  contribute  when  she  acts  the 
woman,  to  alleviate  the  pains  of  adversity.  In  our 
sickness  and  sorrows  *^  she  is  indeed  as  a  ministering 
angel." 

What  heart  else  is  so  sympathetic  ?  What  hand  else 
is  so  soothing  I  Who  watches  by  the  sick-bed  with 
most  care,  with  most  assiduity,  with  the  most  inex- 
haustible patience?  Who,  in  spite  of  feebleness  of 
frame,  foregoes  sleep,  and  patiently  endures  a  course 

4* 


82  ROYAL   ROAD    TO   HAPPINESS;    OR 

of  remitless  watchings  of  incredible  length  ?  Who  so 
often  devotes  life,  and  the  pleasures  of  life  to  the  needs 
of  a  helpless  parent?  To  the  solitary  chamber  of 
decrepit  age?  It  is  woman:  the  well-educated,  the 
enlightened,  the  Chidstian  woman. 


THE   SHEPHERD   BOY  AND   THE   WOLF. 

A  certain  shepherd's  boy  kept  his  sheep  upon  a  com- 
mon, and  in  sport  and  wantonness,  would  often  cry  out, 
*^  the  wolf,  the  wolf"  By  this  means  he  several  times 
drew  the  husbandmen  in  an  adjoining  field  from  their 
work  who,  finding  themselves  deluded,  resolved  for 
the  future  to  take  no  notice  of  his  alarai.  Soon  after, 
the  wolf  came,  indeed.  The  boy  cried  out  in  earnest. 
But  no  heed  being  given  to  his  cries,  the  sheep  are 
devoured  by  the  wolves. 

Application. — He  that  is  detected  for  being  a  noto- 
rious liar,  besides  the  ignominy  and  reproach  of  the 
thing,  incurs  this  mischief,  that  he  will  scarcely  be  able 
to  get  any  one  to  believe  him  again  as  long  as  he  lives. 
However  true  our  complaint  may  be,  or  how  much 
soever  it  may  be  for  our  interest  to  be  believed,  yet,  if 
we  have  been  frequently  caught  tripping  before,  we 
shall  hardly  be  able  to  gain  credit  to  what  we  relate 
afterwards.  Though  mankind  are  generally  stupid 
enough  to  be  often  imposed  upon,  yet  few  are  so  sense- 
less as  to  believe  a  notorious  liar,  or  to  trust  one  who 
has  been  proven  a  cheat. 

These  little  shams,  when  found  out,  are  sufficiently 
prejudicial  to  the  interest  of  every  private  person  who 
practices  them.  But  when  we  are  alarmed  at  imag- 
inary dangers  in  respect  to  public  affairs  till  the  cry 
grows  quite  stale  and  threadbare,  how  can  it  be 
expected  we  should  know  when  we  should  guard  our- 
selves against  real  ones. 


THE    PICTURE   PREACHER. 


83 


THE  SHEPHERD'S  BOY  AND  THE  WOLF. 


I 


SpeaJcing  lies  in  hypocrisy.     I.  Tim.  iv.  2. His  mouth  iafuU 

.  .  .  ,  of  deceit  and  fraud  j  tinder  his  tongue  is  mischief  and  'can- 
ity,    Psa.  X.  v. A  lying  tongue  is  hut  for  a  moment.     Deceit 

is  in  the  heart  of  them  that  imagine  evil.  Pro  v.  xii.  19,  20. As 

a  mad  man  who  casteth  firebrands^  arrows  and  death,  so  is  the  man 
that  deceiveth  his  neighbor,  and  saith  am  I  not  in  sport?    Pro  v. 

XX vi.  18,  19. Bread  of  deceit  is  sweet  to  a  man,  but  afterwards 

his  mouth  shall  be  filled  with  gravel,     Prov.  xx.  7. 


84         ROYAL  ROAD  TO  HAPPINESS;  OR 

THE   LION  AND   OTHER  BEASTS. 

The  lion  and  several  other  beasts  entered  into  an 
alliance,  offensive  and  defensive,  and  were  to  live  very 
sociably  together  in  the  forest.  One  day,  having*  made 
a  sort  of  excursion  by  way  of  hunting,  they  took  a 
very  fine,  fat  deer,  which  was  divided  into  four  parts, 
there  happening  to  be  present  his  majesty  the  lion, 
and  only  three  others.  After  the  di\H[sion  was  made, 
his  majesty,  advancing  forward  some  steps  and  point- 
ing to  one  of  the  shares,  was  pleased  to  declare  him- 
self after  the  following  manner : 

"  This  I  seize  and  take  possession  of  as  my  right, 
which  devolves  to  me  as  I  am  descended  by  a  true, 
lineal,  hereditary  succession,  from  the  royal  family  of 
lions. 

*^  That,  (pointing  to  the  second),  I  claim,  by,  I  think, 
no  unreasonable  demand,  considering  that  all  the 
engagements  you  have  had  with  the  enemy  turn  chiefly 
upon  my  courage  and  conduct;  and  you  very  well 
know  that  wars  are  too  expensive  to  be  carried  on 
without  proper  supplies." 

Then,  (nodding  his  head  toward  the  third),  'Hhat  I 
shall  take  by  virtue  of  my  prerogative ;  to  which  I 
make  no  question  but  so  dutiful  and  loyal  a  people  will 
pay  all  the  deference  and  regard  that  I  can  desire. 
Now,  as  for  the  remaining  part,  the  necessity  of  our 
present  affairs  is  so  very  urgent,  our  stock  so  low  and 
our  credit  so  impaired  and  weakened,  that  I  must 
insist  upon  your  granting  that  without  any  hesitation 
or  demur;  and  hereof  fail  not  at  your  peril." 

Application. — No  alliance  is  safe  which  is  made 
with  those  that  are  superior  to  us  in  power.  Though 
they  lay  themselves  under  the  most  strict  and  solemn 
ties  at  the  opening  of  the  congress,  yet  the  first  advan- 
tageous opportunity  will  tempt  them  to  break  the 
treaty,  and  they  will  never  want  specious  pretences  to 
furnish  out  their  declarations  of  war.     It  is  not  easy  to 


THE   PICTURE   PREACHER. 


£<UFOR 

86 


The  LION'S  SHARE. 


THE  LION  AND  OTHER  BEASTS. 


The  prince  asJceth^  and  the  judge  asketh  for  a  reward.    Micah 
vii.  3. Roh  not  the  poor ^  because  he  is  poor,  Prov.  xxii.  22. 


Ye  shall  do  no  unrighteousness  in  judgment ,  , 
ness  shalt  thou  judge  thy  neighbor.     Lev.  xix. 


.  hut  in  righteous- 
1 5. And  judg- 


ment is  turned  away  backward^  and  justice  standeth  afar  off^  fof 
truth  is  fallen  in  the  streets  and  equity  cannot  enter.     Isa.  lix.  14. 

• Whatsoever  ye  would  that  men  should  do  unto  yoUy  even  so  do  ye 

also  unto  them.     Matt.  vii.  12. 


8G  EOYAL  ROAD  TO  HAPPINESS;  OR 

detennme  whether  it  is  more  stupid  and  ridiculous  for 
a  community  to  trust  itself  first  in  the  hands  of  those 
that  are  more  powerful  than  themselves,  or  to  wonder 
afterwards  that  their  confidence  and  credulity  are 
abused,  and  their  properties  invaded. 

And  the  same  it  is  with  an  individual,  more  power- 
ful than  ourself,  who  comes  to  one  under  the  garb  of 
friendship  and  makes  a  contract  so  as  to  get  one  into 
his  power  and  thereby  rob  one  of  their  just  dues. 
*^  rU  do  what  is  right  about  it^^^  is  a  common  phrase  on 
the  lips  of  a  scoundrel  who  designs  to  cheat  you  when 
you  have  become  powerless  to  prevent  it. 


THE  YOUNG  MAN  AND  THE  LION. 

There  was  a  certain  old  man  who  was  lord  of  a  very 
great  estate,  and  had  only  one  cliild,  a  son,  of  whom 
he  was  exceedingly  tender  and  fond  ;  he  was  likewise 
one  very  apt  to  be  influenced  by  omens,  dreams  and 
prognostics.  The  young  man,  his  son,  was  mightily 
addicted  to  hunting  and  used  to  be  up  early  every 
morning  to  follow  the  chase. 

But  the  old  man  happening  to  dream  one  night  that 
liis  son  was  killed  by  a  lion,  took  it  so  to  heart  that  he 
would  not  suffer  him  to  go  into  the  forest  any  more. 
He  built  a  fine  castle  for  his  reception,  in  which  he  kept 
him  closely  confined,  lest  he  should  step  out  privately 
a  hunting  and  meet  his  fate.  Yet,  as  this  was  purely 
the  effect  of  his  love  and  fondness  for  him,  he  studied 
to  make  his  confinement  as  agreeable  to  him  as. possi- 
ble ;  and  in  order  to  it  furnished  his  castle  with  fine 
pictures,  a  variety  in  which  were  all  sorts  of  wild 
beasts,  such  as  the  son  used  to  take  delight  in  hunting  ; 
and  among  the  rest  the  portrait  of  a  lion. 

This  the  young  man  viewed  one  day  more  atten- 
tively than  ordinary,  and  being  vexed  in  his  mind  at 
the  unreasonable  confinement  which  his  father's  dreams 


THE    PICTURE    PREACHER.  87 

had  occasioned,  lie  broke  out  into  a  violent  passion, 
and  looking  sternly  at  the  lion,  **  thou  cruel  savage," 
says  he,  *^  it  is  to  thy  grim  and  temble  form  that  I  owe 
my  imprisonment;  if  I  had  a  sword  in  my  hand  I 
would  thus  run  it  through  thy  heart."  Saying  this  he 
struck  his  fist  at  the  lion's  breast  and,  unfortunately, 
tore  his  hand  with  the  point  of  a  nail  which  stuck  in 
the  wainscot  and  was  hidden  under  the  canvas.  The 
wound  festered  and  turned  to  a  gangrene ;  this  threw 
the  young  man  into  a  fever  and  he  died,  so  that  his 
father's  dream  w^as  fulfilled  by  the  very  caution  that  he 
took  to  prevent  it. 

Application. — This  fable,  though  it  may  seem  to 
encouraofe  the  notion  of  dreams  and  such  fancied  dis- 
coveries  of  future  events,  is,  however,  intended  to  ridi- 
cule and  explode  them.  What  can  be  more  absurd 
than  the  practice  of  those  credulous  fools  who,  having 
faith  enougli  to  believe  the  veracity  of  oracles,  have  the 
impudence  or  stupidity  to  try  to  defeat  them  after- 
wards. This  was  making  a  god  with  one  hand  and 
throwing  him  away  with  the  other.  First  they  ask  the 
Almighty  what  he  intends  to  do ;  w^hen  he  has  told 
them,  they  believe  him  and  tremble,  but  are  resolved 
to  disappoint  him  if  they  can ;  nay,  they  think  they 
can,  and  set  about  it  accordingly.  These  low,  incon- 
sistent notions  of  God  gave  the  first  birth  to  atheism, 
and  were  they  not  too  common  in  the  world  still,  that 
pernicious  principle,  if  there  be  any  such  principle  in 
reality,  would  be  entirely  rooted  out  or  grow  so  thin 
as  not  to  hinder  the  increase  of  virtue.  When  the 
deity,  which  the  generality  of  the  world  acknowledge, 
is  used  as  if  he  were  a  deity  of  irresolution,  instability, 
mutability  and  passion,  men  of  any  discernment  imme- 
diately renounce  such  a  deity  as  that,  and,  for  want  of 
due  consideration,  remain  atheists,  it  being,  indeed,  the 
less  absurd  of  the  two,  not  to  believe  in  a  Supreme 
Being  at  all,  than  believe  he  is  subject  to  the  frailties 
of  us  mortals,  and  governed  by  whim  and  fancy. 


88  ROYAL   ROAD   TO   HAPPINESS;    OR 

THE  TYRANNY  OF  FASHION. 

Every  one  who  reads  English  history  must  know 
that  Richard  the  Third  had  a  humped  back;  and 
as  the  ancient  story  goes,  humping  became  quite  fash- 
ionable, so  the  English  of  that  day  were  ^^a  crooked 
generation,"  sure  enough.  Be  this,  however,  as  it  may, 
in  point  of  ridiculous  absurdity  it  hardly  exceeds  what 
is  very  commonly  seen  among  ovirselves. 

Though  we  would  fain  be  called  a  Christian  people, 
it  is  a  fact  as  notorious  as  sad,  that  an  anti-Christian 
deity  is  worshiped  among  us,  in  town  and  country,  and 
by  immense  numbers  of  all  classes,  and  of  both  sexes. 
Look  where  you  will,  you  see  all  ranks  bowing,  cring- 
ing, bending  the  knee — to  what  ?  to  Fashion.  This  is 
the  goddess  of  their  idolatry.  They  yield  implicit 
obedience  to  her  laws,  however  absurd  and  barbarous; 
and  though  she  changes  as  often  as  the  moon,  they  fol- 
low her  in  all  her  changes,  and  ape  her  in  all  her 
freaks — ^liumping  whenever  she  humps.  They  are 
brought  to  endure  cold  and  nakedness,  when  but  for 
having  followed  her  mandates,  they  might  be  comfort- 
ably clad.  They  reject  and  despise  the  diet  which  she 
forbids,  though  wholesome  and  palatable,  and  best 
suited  as  well  to  their  constitutions  as  their  circum- 
stances. They  pay  tithes  to  her  of  all  they  possess. 
Tithes,  did  I  say  ?  It  were  well  if  only  a  tenth  would 
satisfy ;  she  often  claims  even  more  than  one-half.  Did 
she  tax  only  the  rich,  who  are  able  to  pay,  it  would  not 
be  so  bad ;  but  she  lays  her  rapacious  hands  on  the 
middling  classes,  and  even  upon  the  poor.  Nay,  the 
knavish  hussey  seizes  what  ought  to  be  laid  up  against 
old  age  and  sickness,  and  also  what  ought  to  go  to  the 
creditor.  By  the  decree  of  fashion,  this  republican  and 
otherwise  free  nation  is  thrown  into  castes,  as  really,  in 
some  respects,  as  the  East  Indians  have  been  by  their 
Brahmins;  and  the  only  way  to  gain  admission,  or  main- 
tain a  standing  in  the  higher  castes,  is  to  dress  gorgeous- 


THE    PICTURE    PREACHER.  89 

ly  and  fare  sumptuously,  no  matter  by  what  means. 
Hence  the  general  struggle.  The  rich  march  foremost 
in  the  ranks  of  fashion,  and  the  others  keep  as  close  to 
their  heels  as  possible,  following  on  in  a  long  train  like 
files  of  geese.  This  is  comic  in  appearance,  but  tragic 
in  reality.  It  is  amusing,  at  first  thought,  to  see  fam- 
ilies in  narrow  circumstances  struggling  to  make  the 
appearance  of  high  life  ;  to  see  them  vicing  not  only 
with  one  another,  but  with  the  rich,  to  exceed  in  finery 
and  splendor ;  to  see  how  much  pains  they  take,  and 
how  many  arts  they  use  to  dazzle  the  eyes  of  the  be- 
holder with  the  mockery  of  wealth.  But  on  due  re- 
flection one  finds  more  reason  to  be  sad  than  merrv — 
when  we  consider  that  these  deluded  people  are 
following  a  phantom  that  is  leading  them  to  ruin  ;  that 
they  are  incurring  expenses  which  they  are  utterly  un- 
able to  support;  that  they  are  bartering  away  solid 
comforts  for  an  empty  show ;  that  by  trying  to  live 
splendidly  they  are  losing  the  means  of  living  decently 
and  comfortably;  when  we  consider  that  they  are 
bringing  much  wretchedness  upon  their  children  by 
leaving  them  to  the  buffetings  of  poverty,  aggravated 
highly  by  their  acquaintance  with  fashionable  life ; 
when  we  consider,  finally,  that  some  of  them  are  de- 
frauding their  creditors,  by  sacrificing  on  the  altar  of 
fashion  what  is  needed  for  the  payment  of  their  just 
debts ;  when  we  put  these  considerations  together  we 
find  them  enough  to  excite  deep  regret  and  sorrow. 

It  is  questionable  whether  great  wealth  conduces,  on 
the  whole,  even  to  worldly  happiness.  It  cannot  cure 
an  aching  head,  or  soothe  an  aching  heart ;  it  is  no 
shield  from  the  shafts  of  misfortune,  nor  from  the  ar- 
rows of  death ;  it  brings  to  the  possessor  an  addition 
of  cares  as  well  as  comforts,  and  is  often  the  means  of 
bringing  moral  ruin  upon  his  children;  and  while  it 
increases  his  power  and  influence,  it  inci:eases,  also,  his 
responsibility.  The  rich  have,  however,  one  exclusive 
privilege :  they  have  a  right  to  make  a  splendid  ap- 


90  ROYAL    TvOAD   TO   HAPPINESS;    OR 

pearance  in  the  world,  because  their  circumstances  can 
well  afford  it.  Fine  houses,  expensive  furniture,  stately- 
equipage,  are  within  the  bounds  of  their  real  means, 
and  therefore  not  censui-able  in  them. 

In  one  point  of  view  the  profusion  of  their  expenses 
is  beneficial  to  the  community,  as  it  gives  employment 
and  affords  sustenance  to  industry.  Yet  there  can  be 
shown  *^  a  more  excellent  way."  Frugality  is  comely 
even  in  the  rich.  Not  that  frugality  which  degenerates 
to  parsimony,  and  causes  the  rich  to  wear  the  garb  of 
poverty  from  a  sordid  spirit  of  penuriousness ;  nor  yet 
that  frugality  which  saves  merely  to  increase  a  hoard 
of  wealth  already  too  large ;  but  it  is  a  prudent  saving 
from  the  grasp  of  profusion  for  the  purpose  of  charity 
and  beneficence.     Take  the  following  example : 

Benevolus  has  both  largeness  of  wealth  and  large- 
ness of  heart.  Content  with  his  present  worldly  store, 
he  is  resolved  that  his  expenses  shall  about  eqvial  his 
income.  He  lives  daily  in  the  style  of  affluence,  but 
never  in  the  style  of  extravagance ;  and  what  he  saves 
by  frugality  he  bestows  in  charity.  To  the  children  of 
misfortune  and  want  he  is  a  friend  and  father ;  of  every 
useful  and  laudable  undertaking  he  is  a  bountiful  en- 
courager.  Does  Benevolus  aspire  to  be  a  leader  of 
fashion?  Yes,  with  all  the  weight  of  his  influence 
he  tries  to  make  industry,  prudent  economy,  and  fru- 
gality fashionable ;  to  make  the  moral  and  Christian 
virtues  fashionable ;  to  make  it  fashionable  to  behave 
well  and  to  do  good.  Happy  man  !  Happy  the  chil- 
dren of  such  a  father,  and  the  community  that  has  such 
a  pattern ! 

As  the  richest  families  may  be  beggared  by  extrav- 
agance, much  sooner  will  it  consume  one's  all  when 
that  all  is  but  little — and  what  avails  the  ruffle  without 
the  shirt?  Persons  who  are  in  small  circumstances 
must  prudently  husband  what  they  have,  or  it  will 
quickly  slip  out  of  their  hands. 

How  unwise  is  it  for  them  to  make  an  ostentation  of 


THE    PICTURE    PREACHER.  91 

wealth  which  thej  do  not  possess,  or  to  pursue  "when 
she  runs  faster  than  they  can  follow."  Many  thousands, 
by  standing  on  tiptoe  and  reaching  after  things  too 
high  for  them,  have  fallen  flat  to  the  ground. 

If  you  follow  fashion  beyond  your  real  means,  de- 
pend upon  it,  the  skittish  jade  will  throw  you  into  the 
mire  at  last. 


THE   BOASTING  TRAVELER 

One  who  had  been  abroad,  on  his  return  home  again 
was  giving  an  account  of  his  travels;  and,  among  other 
places,  said  he  had  been  at  Rhodes,  where  he  had  so 
distinguished  himself  in  leaping,  an  exercise  that  city 
was  famous  for,  that  not  a  Rhodian  could  come  near 
him.  When  those  who  were  present  did  not  seem  to 
credit  this  relation  so  readily  as  he  intended  they 
should,  he  took  some  pains  to  convince  them  of  it  by 
oaths  and  protestations ;  upon  which  one  of  the  com- 
pany, rising  up,  told  him  he  need  not  trouble  himself 
so  much  about  it,  since  he  would  put  him  in  a  way  to 
demonstrate  in  fact :  which  was  to  suppose  the  place 
they  were  in  to  be  Rhodes,  and  to  perform  his  extra- 
ordinary leap  over  again.  The  boaster,  not  liking  this 
proposal,  sat  down  quietly  and  had  no  more  to  say  for 
himself. 

Application. — It  is  very  weak,  in  all  men,  as  well 
those  who  liave  traveled  as  those  who  have  not,  to  be 
solicitous  to  have  their  company  believe  them  when 
they  are  relating  a  matter  of  fact,  in  which  themselves 
were  a  party  concerned.  For  the  more  urgent  a  man 
appears  at  such  a  time,  in  order  to  gain  credit,  the 
more  his  audience  are  apt  to  suspect  the  truth  of  what 
he  relates.  They  perceive  his  vanity  is  touched  more 
than  his  honor,  and  that  it  is  his  ability  and  not  his  ve- 
racity which  he  cannot  bear  to  have  questioned.  And, 
indeed,  though  a  man  were  ever  so  fully  satisfied  of  such 
a  truth  himself,  he  should  consider  that  he  is  still  as  far 


92  ROYAL  ROAD  TO  HAPPINESS;  OR 

from  being  able  to  convince  others  as  if  he  were  aho- 
gether  ignorant  of  it.  Therefore  in  all  cases  where 
proper  vouchers  are  expected,  we  had  better  be  con- 
tented to  keep  our  exploits  to  ourselves  than  appear 
ridiculous  by  contending  to  have  them  believed. 

How  much  more,  then,  should  traveled  gentlemen 
have  a  care  how  they  import  lies  and  inventions  of 
their  own  from  foreign  parts,  and  attempt  to  vend  them 
at  home  for  staple  truths.  Every  time  they  utter  a 
falsehood  they  are  liable  not  only  to  be  suspected  by 
the  company  in  general,  but  to  be  detected  and  exposed 
by  some  particular  person  who  may  have  been  at  the 
same  place,  and  perhaps  knows  how  to  convict  them 
of  their  forgery,  even  to  a  demonstration. 


THE  HAWK,   PIGEON  AND  FARMER. 

A  hawk,  pursuing  a  pigeon  over  a  corn-field  with 
great  eagerness  and  force,  threw  herself  into  a  net 
which  a  husbandman  had  planted  there  to  take  the 
crows,  who,  being  employed  not  far  off*,  and  seeing 
the  hawk  fluttering  in  the  net,  came  and  took  it ;  but 
just  as  he  was  going  to  kill  it  the  hawk  besought  him 
to  let  him  go,  assuring  him  that  he  was  only  following 
a  pigeon,  and  neither  intended  nor  had  done  any  harm 
to  him.  To  whom  the  farmer  replied,  ^^and  what  harm 
had  the  poor  pigeon  done  to  you  ?"  Upon  which  he 
wrung  his  head  off  immediately. 

Application. — Passion,  prejudice,  or  power  may  so 
far  blind  a  man  as  not  to  suffer  him  justly  to  distin- 
guish whether  he  is  not  acting  injuriously,  at  the  same 
time  that  he  fancies  he  is  only  doing  his  duty.  Now, 
the  best' way  of  being  convinced  whether  what  we  do 
is  reasonable  and  fit,  is  to  put  ourselves  in  the  place  of 
the  persons  with  whom  we  are  concerned,  and  then 
consult  our  conscience  about  the  rectitude  of  om- 
behavior. 


THE   PICTURE   PREACHER.  93 


WOMAN'S  DEVOTION. 


An  affecting  anecdote  is  told  of  the  influence  of  a 
woman's  love  in  causing  an  entire  reformation  in  a  poor, 
besotted  drunkard.  He  was  naturally  a  bright  and 
amiable  young  man,  who  had  been  led  by  his-  love  of 
strong  drink  to  such  alow  stage  of  degradation  that  the 
saloon-keepers  whom  he  had  patronized  would  not  suf- 
fer him  to  remain  on  their  premises,  and  there  was  ap- 
parently no  hope  for  him.  All  his  friends  were  mortified 
and  obliged  to  give  him  up.  A  young  lady  to  whom 
he  was  attached  was  also  compelled  by  her  self-respect 
to  have  no  further  connection  with  him,  as  he  had  for- 
feited all  claim  to  her  affection  and  respect. 

As  he  was  passing  along  one  day,  drunk  as  usual,  he 
stumbled  into  a  ditch  by  the  wayside,  and  then  fell 
into  a  drunken  sleep,  a  spectacle  of  pity  for  some,  and 
a  subject  of  laughter  for  others. 

The  young  lady  to  whom  he  was  attached  soon  came 
along,  and  on  discovering  him  felt  impelled  to  take  her 
handkerchief — whereon  her  name  was  beautifully 
worked — and  spread  it  over  his  face.  On  the  poor 
drunkard  awaking  from  his  stupor  and  finding  out  who 
had  laid  the  cover  over  his  face  to  shield  him  from 
observation,  was  greatly  moved. 

In  holy  writ  the  virtuous  woman  is  described  as  hav- 
ing the  law  of  kindness  on  her  lips,  but  in  the  case 
before  us  she  speaks  by  her  act  in  louder  language 
than  words  can  utter  of  the  depth  of  woman's  kindness 
and  love.  While  all  others  had  apparently  forsaken 
the  poor  creature,  she,  like  an  angel  of  mercy,  de- 
scends into  the  gutter  and  throws  her  bright  shield  over 
him.  Fortunately  a  spark  of  manhood  remains ;  he 
rises,  and  lifting  up  his  hand  heavenward,  solemnly 
swears,  God  helping  him,  never  to  taste  another  drop 
of  the  soul-destroying  drink.  His  vow  is  kept ;  he  is 
restored  to  the  love  and  confidence  of  all  his  friends, 
and  becomes  a  blessing  in  his  day  and  generation. 


94  ROYAL   ROAD    TO   HAPPINESS;    OR 

THE  THIEF  AND  THE  TRICKY  BOY. 

A  sly,  tricky  boy  sitting  by  a  well  as  a  strange  man 
came  up,  was  weeping  bitterly,  saying  he  had  lost  a 
silver  tankard  down  the  well.  Whereupon  the  man, 
who  was  a  thief,  stripped  and  went  down,  designing  to 
procure  the  tankard  for  himself.  This  was  just  what 
the  boy  wanted,  his  story  having  been  a  lie ;  for  no 
sooner  had  the  thief  got  below  than  he  stole  his  clotlies 
and  ran  off.  The  consternation  and  indignation  of  the 
thief  when  he  arose  up  out  of  the  well  and  found  no 
signs  of  the  boy  nor  of  his  clothes,  may  easier  be  im- 
agined than  described. 

Application. — However  justice  may  be  but  little 
practised  and  pursued  by  particular  men  in  the  com- 
mon course  of  their  actions,  yet  every  one  readily 
agrees  that  it  ought  to  be  kept  up  and  enforced  by  the 
several  penal  laws  in  respect  to  the  public  in  general. 
Many  a  one  can  scarce  forbear  robbing  and  defrauding 
another,  when  it  is  in  his  power  to  do  it  with  impu- 
nity ;  but  at  the  same  time,  when  he  himself  is  robbed 
and  defrauded,  he  is  as  angry  as  if  he  were  the  most 
innocent  man  living,  and  is  as  severe  in  prosecuting 
the  offenders,  which  proves  that  an  unjust  man  is  delib- 
erately wicked,  and  abhors  the  crime  in  another  which 
he  dares  commit  himself. 

It  is  for  this  reason  that  the  greater  part  of  mankind 
like  well  enough  to  have  punishment  inflicted  upon  those 
who  do  wrong ;  accordingly  submit  themselves  to  be 
governed  peaceably  and  quietly  by  the  laws  of  their 
country,  upon  the  prospect  of  seeing  justice  executed 
upon  all  those  who  do  them  an  injury.  And,  however 
a  tender  nature  may  shrink  at  the  sight,  and  commis- 
erate the  condition  of  a  suffering  malefactor,  yet,  in 
the  main,  we  may  observe  that  people  are  pleased  and 
satisfied  when  the  sword  of  justice  is  unsheathed ;  and 
multitudes  will  even  crowd  to  be  spectators  when  the 
finishing  stroke  is  given. 


THE   PICTURE   PREACHER. 


95 


Paid  in  his  ownCoin* 


THE  THIEF  AND  THE  BOY. 


Jlis  mischief  shall  return  itpon  his  own  head, shall  co7ne 

down  upon  his  own  pate.     Psa.  vii.  16. Kvery  one  that  stealeth 

shall  be  cut  off,     Zech.  v.  3. Xor  thieves  nor  covetous  shall  in- 
herit the  kingdom  of  God.      I.  Cor.  vi.  10. Thy  princes  .... 

are  companions  of  thieves,  every  one  loveth  gifts,  and  followeth 
after  rewards.     Isa.  j.  23.     He  is  cast  into  a  net  by  his  oicn  feet^ 


the  robber  shall  prevail  against  him.    Job  xviii. 


8,  9. 


96  ROYAL   ROAD   TO   HAPPINESS;    OR 

THE  APE  AND  HER  CUBS. 

An  ape  having  two  young  ones,  was  doatingly  fond 
of  one  but  disregarded  and  slighted  tlie  otlier.  One 
day  she  chanced  to  be  surprised  by  the  hunters,  and 
had  much  ado  to  get  off.  However,  she  did  not  forget 
her  favorite  young  one,  which  she  took  up  in  her  arais 
that  it  might  be  the  more  secure ;  the  other,  which  she 
neglected  by  natural  instinct,  leaped  upon  her  back  and 
so  away  they  scampered  together,  seeking  some  place 
of  supposed  safety. 

But  it  unluckily  fell  out  that  the  dam,  in  her  precipi- 
tate flight,  blinded  with  haste,  dashed  her  favorite's 
head  against  a  stone,  and  killed  it.  The  hated  one, 
climbing  up  a  high  tree,  escaped  all  the  danger  of  the 
pursuit. 

Application. — This  fable  is  designed  to  expose  the 
folly  of  some  parents,  who,  by  indulging  and  humoring 
their  favorite  children,  spoil  and  ruin  them ;  while  those 
of  whom  they  have  been  the  least  fond  have  done  very 
well.  The  child  that  knows  it  can  command  its  pa- 
rent's affection,  will  hardly  be  brought  to  know  how  to 
obey.  The  fondness  of  indiscreet  parents  for  favorite 
children  is  blind  as  love  itself;  they  are  so  far  from 
seeing  any  blemishes  or  imperfections  in  them  that 
their  very  deformity  is  beauty,  and  all  their  ugly  tricks 
graces.  Thus,  without  ever  being  checked  and  cor- 
rected for  their  faults,  but  rather  applauded  and  caressed 
for  them,  when  they  come  abroad  upon  the  theatre  of 
the  world  what  rock  will  they  not  split  upon  !  while 
the  child  who  is  so  happy  as  to  escape  these  very 
tender  regards,  these  pernicious  indulgences,  is  obliged 
to  be  good  and  honest  in  its  own  defence.  The 
parent  looks  upon  it  with  an  eye  clear  from  the  mists 
of  fondness.  He  has  no  regard  to  its  dislike  or  appro- 
bation ;  but,  for  his  own  credit,  puts  it  into  such  a  way 
of  education  as  reason  dictates,  and  forces  it  to  be 
accomplished  as  its  capacity  will  admit. 


THE    PICTURE    PREACHER. 


97 


THE  APE  AND  HER  CUBS. 


And  the  king  was  moved ....  and  wept,  and  as  he  went , , ,  he 
said,  O  my  son  Absalom,  my  son,  my  son  Absalom  I  would  God 
1  had  died  for  thee,  O  Absalom  my  son,  my  son  !    H.  Sam.  xviiL 

Little  children  keep  yourselves  from  idols.     I.  John  v.  21. But 

theioisdom  that  is  from  above  is  first  pure, .  .  .  .full  of  mercy  and 

good  fruits,  without  partiality  and  hypocrisy,     James  iii.  17 

Train  up  a  child  in  the  way  he  should  go,  and  when  he  is  old  he 
will  not  depart  from  it,     Prov.  xxii.  6. 

r> 


98  ROYAL   ROAD   TO   HAPPINESS;    OR 

THE  FOX  AND  THE  LION. 

The  first  time  the  fox  saw  the  lion,  he  fell  down  at 
his  feet  and  was  ready  to  die  with  fear.  The  second 
time  he  took  courage,  and  could  even  bear  to  look  upon 
him.  The  third  time  he  had  the  impudence  to  come 
v\p  to  him,  to  salute  him,  and  to  enter  into  familiar 
conversation  with  him.  On  a  full  acquaintance  with 
his  majesty,  the  lion,  he  became  convinced  that  he  was 
not  the  savage,  unapproachable  tyrant,  a  mere  sanguin- 
ary destroyer  as  others  of  his  race  had  been  repre- 
sented, but  that  he  was  capable,  in  a  high  degree,  of 
forbearance,  generosity,  and  even  affection. 

Application. — From  this  fable  we  may  observe  the 
two  extremes  in  which  we  may  fall,  as  to  proper  beha- 
vior towards  our  superiors :  the  one  is  a  baslifulness, 
proceeding  either  from  a  vicious,  guilty  mind,  or  a 
timorous  rusticity;  the  other,  an  overbearing  impu- 
dence, which  assumes  more  than  becomes  it,  and  so 
renders  the  person  insufferable  to  the  conversation 
of  well-bred,  reasonable  people. 

But  there  is  this  difference  between  the  bashfulness 
that  arises  from  a  want  of  education,  and  the  shame- 
facedness  that  accompanies  conscious  guilt;  the  first, 
by  a  continuance  of  time  and  a  nearer  acquaintance, 
may  be  ripened  into  a  proper,  liberal  behavior;  the 
other  no  sooner  finds  an  easy,  practicable  access,  but  it 
throws  off  all  manner  of  reverence,  grows  every  day 
more  and  more  familiar,  and  branches  out  into  the 
utmost  indecency  and  irregularity. 

Indeed,  there  are  many  occasions  which  may  happen 
to  cast  an  awe,  or  even  a  terror  upon  our  minds  at  first 
view,  without  any  just  and  reasonable  grounds:  but  upon 
a  little  recollection,  or  a  nearer  insight,  we  recover 
ourselves,  where,  before,  we  were  ready  to  sink  under 
a  load  of  diffidence  and  fear. 

We  should,  upon  such  occasions,  use  our  endeavors 
to  regain  a  due  degree  of  steadiness  and  resolution  ; 


THE  PICTTJEE   PEEACHEK. 


99 


M 

^^        -^S^i^^ 

"V 

/-                     ^-=                          ;.,       - 

^^^^.^^^^ 

-  •  -^i^-^^^ 

Acquaintance 
Slrffens  prejudices 

^                  iji^^^Sg'j^jiBI 

:^«^ra 

L  '^^^^91 

lllllijiglgpPPBpBS^^pSM 

p^^-^B 

^^H 

K^^K^^K 

^^w^n 

K^%^B[|^^^^SS#w 

^^^^^' 

K3§=»^#jli!ii;^3yi 

^^^S^^HI 

THE  FOX  AND  THE  LION. 


Judge  not  according  to  the  appearance^  hut  judge  righteous  judg- 
ment.    John  vii.  24. 1  have  heard  of  this  man^  how  much  evil 

he  hath  done, ....    But  the  Lord  said  he  is  a  chosen  vessel  unto 

me.     Acts  ix.  13, 15. They  were  all  afraid  ofhim^  and  believed 

not  that  he  was  a  disciple.     Acts  ix.  26. Condescend  to  men  of  ^ 

low  estate.     Rom.  xii.  16. Bender  to  all  their  dues  ....  custom 

to  whom  custom;  fear  to  whom  fear;  honor  to  whom  honor, 
Rom.  xiiL  7. 


100  ROYAL   ROAD   TO    HAPPINESS;    OR 

but,  at  the  same  time,  we  must  have  a  care  that  our 
efforts  in  that  respect  do  not  force  the  balance  too 
much,  and  make  it  rise  to  an  unbecoming  freedom  and 
an  offensive  familiarity. 

We  may  also  learn  from  this  fable  that  the  higher 
class  may  receive  much  benefit  by  their  ^^  condescen- 
sion to  men  of  low  estate."  It  is  said  that  the  king  of 
beasts  is  always  frightened  by  the  braying  of  the  ass, 
and  whenever  he  hears  its  hideous  roar  flees  at  once  to 
the  forest  for  safety.  It  is  presumed  that  the  fox,  in 
his  conversation  with  his  majesty,  would  allude  to  this 
subject,  and  by  his  superior  knowledge  of  the  habits 
of  the  ass,  his  harmless  nature,  etc.,  could  at  once 
relieve  his  friend  from  all  apprehensions  of  future 
danger.  The  outrageous  noise  which  the  animal  made 
was  nothing  more  than  a  wholesome  exercise  of  his 
voice  and  meant  nothing  in  particular  more  than  did 
the  bleating  heard  in  a  flock  of  sheep. 


THE  MONKEY,  CAT  AND  CHESTNUTS. 

Selfishness  is  the  besetting  sin  of  the  human  race. 
It  is  defined  to  be  the  exclusive  regard  of  a  person  to 
his  own  interest  or  happiness,  or  that  supreme  self-love 
or  preference  which  leads  a  person  in  his  actions  to 
direct  his  purposes  to  the  advancement  of  his  own 
interests,  power  or  happiness,  without  regarding  the 
interests  of  others.  Selfishness  in  its  worst  unqual- 
ified sense,  is  the  very  essence  of  human  depravity, 
and  stands  in  direct  opposition  to  Benevolence,  which 
is  the  essence  of  the  divine  character.  A  celebrated 
religious  writer  of  the  last  century  defines  all  sin  to 
consist  in  supreme  selfishness.  The  annexed  engraving 
illustrates  this  quality.  A  monkey  discovered  some 
chestnuts  roasting  by  the  fire  and  wished  to  secure  them 
for  himself,  but  was  afraid  of  burning  his  own  fin- 
gers if  he  made  the  attempt     Casting  his  eyes  around 


THE  PICTUKE   PREACHER. 


101 


^tWE    5.ELFI 


S\^v5- 


^wnes 


THE  MONKEY,  CAT  AND  CHESTNUTS. 


Their  tongue  is  an  arrow  shot  out  /  it  speaketh  deceit  /  one 
speakeih peaceably  to  his  neighbor  with  his  mouth^but  in  his  heart 

he  luyeth  in  wait.     Jer.  ix.  8. They  ....  lay  snares  for  me; 

they  that  seek  my  hurt,  speak  mischievous  things^  and  imagine 

deceits      Psa.  xxxviiL  12. Tliey  bind  heavy  burdens  grievous  to 

be  borne,  ....  but  themselves  will  not  move  them,  with  one  of  their 

fingers.     Matt,  xxiii.  4. Thou  that  preachest  a  man  should  not 

steal,  dost  thou  steal?     Rom.  ii.  21. Mark  them  that  cause 

divisions  and  offences, avoid  them,     Kora.  xvi.  18. He 

lieth  in  wait  to  catch  the  poor, He  croucheth  and  humbleth 

himself  that  the  poor  may  fall  by  his  strong  ones,     Psa.  x.  9,  10. 


102        ROYAL  ROAD  TO  HAPPINESS;  OR 

for  some  object  wherewith  to  do  it,  he  espied  a  cat 
curled  up  in  the  corner  of  the  room,  fast  asleep. 
Whereupon  he  caught  puss  in  his  arms  and  extended 
one  of  her  paws  into  the  fire  where  the  chestnuts  were 
roasting,  and  regardless  of  her  piteous  cries  and  strug- 
gles, deliberately  poked  over  the  hot  ashes  and  cinders 
and  thus  drew  from  the  fire  all  the  chesnuts  he  wished 
without  harm  to  himself. 

From  this  fable  arises  the  expression,  the  ^'  Cat-paw 
SystemJ^  That  is  that  supreme  selfishness  M^hich  carries 
out  its  own  ends  without  regard  or  care  for  the  suffer- 
ings of  others. 

One  actuated  by  such  a  spirit  will  not  only  slander 
and  cheat  but  even  murder  his  neighbor,  if  he  can  do 
so  with  a  feeling  of  safety  that  he  will  not  be  discov- 
ered, and  so  escape  the  penalty.  To  poison  their  rela- 
tives so  as  to  obtain  their  property  has  been  a  not 
uncommon  crime  in  all  ranks  and  conditions  of  society 
in  various  parts  of  the  world. 

One  form  of  selfishness  appears  in  the  political  con- 
tests of  the  day.  The  contending  parties  will  often 
accuse  each  other  of  lying  and  deception,  and  slander 
the  candidates  of  those  who  are  opposed  to  their  views. 
Even  apaong  religious  people  so-called,  divisions  and 
offences  arise  because  unworthy  creatures  get  among 
them  and  foment  discord,  contrary  to  peace,  unity  and 
brotherly  love  enjoined  by  Christian  principles.  The 
apostle  enjoins  his  brethren  to  avoid  all  such  persons, 
and  have  no  religious  fellowship  with  them,  for  they 
come  not  to  serve  God,  but  to  serve  themselves,  hoping 
to  gain  some  worldly  benefit  by  being  connected  with 
them. 

Persons  of  this  stamp  sometimes  enter  the  Christian 
ministry  to  gain  a  secular  support.  *'The  church  of 
God,"  says  a  celebrated  commentator,  "  has  been 
troubled  with  such  pretended  pastors ;  men  who  feed 
themselves  J  not  the  flock ;  men  who  are  too  proud  to 
beg  and  too  lazy  to  work ;  who  have  neither  gift  nor 


THE    PICTURE    PREACHER.  103 

grace  to  plant  the  standard  of  the  cross.  .  .  .  By 
doubtful  disputations  and  the  propagation  of  scandals^ 
rend  Christian  congregations,  form  a  party  for  them- 
selves and  thus  live  on  the  spoils  of  the  chm'cli  of  God." 
During  the  introduction  of  Christianity  into  the 
Roman  Empire,  Christians  endured  many  bloody  per- 
secutions from  their  enemies,  and  vast  numbers  were 
put  to  death.  To  accomplish  this,  those  in  authority 
secretly  employed  incendiaries  to  set  Rome  on  fire  in 
several  places,  and  laid  the  crime  to  the  Christians  living 
in  their  midst.  By  this  means  the  populace  were  aroused 
to  put  such  criminals  to  death.  Blood  flowed  in  tor- 
rents from  the  action  of  these  cat-paws  instigated  by 
rulers  who  had  dominion  over  them. 


THE  WIND  AND  THE  SUN. 

A  dispute  once  arose  between  the  North-wind  and  the 
Sun,  about  the  superiority  of  their  power;  and  they^ 
agreed  to  try  their  strength  upon  a  traveler,  which 
should  be  able  to  get  his  cloak  off  first.  The  North- 
wind  began,  and  blew  a  very  cold  blast,  accompanied 
with  a  sharp  driving  shower.  But  this,  and  whatever 
else  he  could  do,  instead  of  making  the  man  quit  his 
cloak,  obliged  him  to  gird  it  about  his  body  as  close  as 
possible. 

Next  came  the  Sun ;  who,  breaking  out  from  a  thick 
watery  cloud,  drove  away  the  cold  vapors  from  the^ 
sky,  and  darted  his  warm  sultry  beams  upon  the  head 
of  the  poor  weather-beaten  traveler.  The  man,  grow- 
ing faint  with  the  heat,  and  unable  to  endure  it  any 
longer,  first  throws  off"  his  heavy  cloak,  and  then  flies 
for  protection  to  the  shade  of  a  neighboring  grove. 

Application. — There  is  something  in  the  temper  of 
man  so  averse  to  severe  and  boisterous  treatment,  that 
he  who  endeavors  to  carry  his  point  in  that  way,  in- 
stead of  prevailing,  generally  leaves  the  mind  of  him 


104 


BOYAL   BO  AD   TO   HAPPINESS;   OB 


THE  WIND  AND  THE  SUN. 


The  fruit  oftTie  spirit  is  love long  suffering^  gentleness^ 

goodness^  meekness,     Eph.  v.  22,  23. The  servant  of  the  Lord 

tnust  not  strive;  but  he  gentle  unto  all  men^patient,     H.  Tim.  ii.  24, 

25. Forbearing    threatening.       E)>h.   vi.    9. Speaking  the 

truth  in  love,     Eph.  iv.  15. JBe  children  of  the  higliest;  for  he 

is  hind  to  the  thankful  and  the  evil,    Luke  vi.  35. Be  not  over- 
come ofevil^  but  overcome  evil  with  good,     Rom.  xii.  21. If 

thine  enemy  hunger  feed  him  ....  for  in  so  doing  thou  shalt  heap 
coals  of  fire  on  his  head,     Rom.  xii.  20,  21. 


THE    PICTURE    PREACHER.  105 

whom  he  has  thus  attempted  to  change,  in  a  more  con- 
firmed and  obstinate  situation  than  he  found  it  at  first 

Bitter  words  and  hard  usage  freeze  the  heart  into  a 
kind  of  obduracy,  which  mild  persuasion  and  gentle 
language  only  can  dissolve  and  soften. 

Persecution  has  always  fixed  and  riveted  those  opin- 
ions which  it  was  intended  to  dispel ;  and  some  discern- 
ing men  have  attributed  the  quick  growth  of  Chris- 
tianity, in  a  great  measure,  to  the  rough  and  barbarous 
reception  which  its  first  teachers  met  with  in  the  world. 

When  an  opinion  is  so  violently  attacked  it  raises  an 
attention  in  the  persecuted  party,  and  gives  an  alarm 
to  their  vanity,  by  making  them  think  that  worth  de- 
fending and  keeping,  at  the  hazard  of  their  lives,  which, 
perhaps,  otherwise,  they  would  only  have  admired 
awhile  for  the  sake  of  its  novelty,  and  afterwards  re- 
signed of  their  own  accord.  In  short,  a  fierce,  turbulent 
opposition,  like  the  north-wind,  only  serves  to  make  a 
man  wrap  up  his  notions  more  closely  about  him  ;  but 
we  know  not  what  a  warm,  sunshiny  behavior,  rightly 
applied,  would  be  able  to  effect. 


THE   WOLF  AND   THE   KID. 

The  goat,  going  abroad  to  feed,  shut  up  her  young 
kid  at  home,  charging  him  to  bolt  the  door  fast,  and 
open  it  to  nobody,  till  she  herself  should  return. 
The  wolf,  w^ho  lay  lurking  just  by,  heard  this  charge 
given,  and  soon  after  came  and  knocked  at  the  door, 
counterfeiting  the  voice  of  the  goat  and  desiring  to  be 
admitted.  The  kid,  looking  out  at  a  window  and  find- 
ing the  cheat,  bid  him  go  about  his  business ;  for,  how- 
ever he  might  imitate  a  goafs  voice,  yet  he  appeared 
too  much  like  a  wolf  to  be  trusted. 

Application. — As  it  is  impossible  that  young  people 
should  steer  their  course  aright  in  the  world,  before 
they  are   acquainted  with  the  situation  of  the  many 


106        ROYAL  ROAD  TO  HAPPINESS;  OR 

dangers  which  lie  in  their  way,  it  is  therefore  necessary 
that  they  should  be  under  the  government  and  direction 
of  their  elders. 

If  a  child  has  but  reason  enough  to  consider  at  all, 
how  readily  should  it  embrace  the  counsel  of  its  father 
who  has  already  walked  in  the  difficult  wilderness  of 
life,  and  has  observed  every  danger  which  lies  lurking 
in  the  paths  of  it. 

Of  these,  with  much  tenderness  and  sincere  affection, 
he  makes  a  discovery  to  his  son,  telling  him  what  he  must 
avoid  and  directing  him  how  to  make  a  safe,  honorable, 
and  advantageous  journey.  When,  therefore,  the  child 
refuses  to  follow  the  directions  of  so  skillful  a  guide,  so 
faithful,  so  loving,  and  so  sincere  a  friend,  no  wonder 
if  he  falls  into  many  mischiefs,  which,  otherwise,  he 
might  have  escaped,  unpitied  and  unlamented  by  all 
that  know  him,  because  he  obstinately  contemned  the 
kind  admonitions  of  him  that  truly  wished  and  intended 
his  happiness,  and  perversely  followed  the  examples  of 
those  who  decoyed  him  out  of  the  way  of  virtue,  into 
the  thorny  mazes  of  vice  and  error. 

Nor  should  children  take  it  ill,  if  the  commands  of 
their  parents  sometimes  seem  difficult  and  disagreeable; 
perhaps,  upon  experiment,  they  may  prove  as  pleasant 
and  diverting  as  if  they  had  followed  their  own  choice. 
This,  however,  they  may  be  assured  of,  that  all  such 
cautions  are  intended  out  of  true  love  and  affection,  by 
those  who  are  more  experienced  than  themselves,  and 
therefore  better  judges  what  their  conduct  should  be. 


THE  TWO  POTS. 


An  earthen  pot,  and  one  of  brass,  standing  together 
upon  the  river's  brink,  were  both  earned  away  by  the 
flowing  in  of  the  tide.  The  Earthen  pot  showed  some 
uneasiness,  as  fearing  he  should  be  broken ;  but  his 
companion  of  Brass  bid  him  to  be  under  no  apprehen- 


TIIE   PICTURE   PREACHER. 


107 


THE  TWO  POTS. 


n.  Cor.  VI.  14. A  prudent  man 

12. He  not  desirous  of  his  dain- 

neither  desire  thou  his  dainty  meats.     Pro  v.  xxiii.  3,  6. 


J?e  not  unequally  yoTced^ .  . 
joreseeth  tJie  evil.    Prov.  xxvii 
ties . 


Mind  not  high  things.     Rom.  xii.  16.- 

he  satisfied  from,  himself.     Prov%  iv,  14. — 


— A  good  man  shall 
Discretion  shall  pre- 


serve  thee^  understanding  shall  keep  thee,    Prov.  iu  1 1. 


108        ROYAL  ROAD  TO  HAPPINESS;  OR 

sion,  for  that  he  would  take  care  of  him.  ^^Oh,"  replies 
the  other,  ^'keep  as  far  off  as  ever  you  can,  I  entreat 
you;  it  is  you  I  am  most  afraid  of;  for,  whether  the 
stream  dashes  you  against  me,  or  me  against  you,  I  am 
sure  to  be  the  suiferer ;  and  therefore  I  beg  of  you  do 
not  let  us  come  near  one  another." 

Application. — A  man  of  a  moderate  fortune,  who  is 
contented  with  what  he  has,  and  finds  he  can  live  hap- 
pily upon  it,  should  take  care  not  to  hazard  and  expose 
his  felicity  by  consorting  with  the  great  and  powerful. 
People  of  equal  conditions  may  float  down  the  current 
of  life  without  hurting  each  other ;  but  it  is  a  point  of 
some  difficulty  to  steer  one's  course  in  the  company  of 
the  great,  so  as  to  escape  without  a  bulge.  One  would 
not  choose  to  have  one's  little  country  box  situated  in 
the  neighborhood  of  a  very  great  man ;  for  whether  I 
ignorantly  trespass  upon  him,  or  he  knowingly  en- 
croaches upon  me,  I  only  am  like  to  be  the  sufferer. 
I  can  neither  entertain  nor  play  with  him,  upon  his 
own  terms ;  for  that  which  is  moderation  and  diversion 
to  him,  in  me  would  be  extravagance  and  ruin. 


THE  LEOPARD  AND  THE  FOX. 

The  leopard  one  day  took  it  into  his  head  to  value 
himself  upon  the  great  variety  and  beauty  of  his  spots, 
and  truly  he  saw  no  reason  why  even  the  lion  should 
take  place  of  him,  since  he  could  not  show  so  beautiful 
a  skin.  As  for  the  rest  of  the  wild  beasts  of  the  forests, 
he  treated  them  all,  without  distinction,  in  the  most 
haughty,  disdainful  manner.  But  the  fox,  being  among 
them,  went  up  to  him  with  a  great  deal  of  spirit  and 
resolution,  and  told  him  that  he  was  mistaken  in  the 
value  he  was  pleased  to  set  upon  himself ;  since  people 
of  judgment  were  not  used  to  form  their  opinion  of 
merit  from  an  outside  appearance,  but  by  considering 
the  good  qualities  and  endowments  with  which  the 
mind  was  stored  within. 


THE   PICTURE   PREACHER, 


109 


THE  LEOPARD  AND  THE  FOX 


Favor  18  deceitful  and  beauty  is  vain,    Prov.  xxi.  30. Thine 

heart  was  lifted  iip^  because  of  thy  beauty  thou  hast  corrupted  thy 
wisdom  by  reason  of  thy  brightness  :  I  will  cast  thee  to  the  ground, 

Eze.  xxviiL  17. Whose  glorious  beauty  is  a  fading  flower.    Isa. 

xxviii.  1. For  not  he  that  commendeth  himself  is  approved^ 

but  whom  the  Lord  commendeth.    II.  Cor.  x.  18. Every  one 

that  IS  proud  is  an  abomination  to  the  Lord*    Prov.  xvL  5, 


110  EOYAL   ROAD   TO   HAPPINESS;   OR 

Application. — How  mucli  more  heavenly  and  pow- 
erful would  beauty  prove  if  it  were  not  so  frequently 
impaired  by  the  affectation  and  conceit  of  its  possessor? 
If  some  women  were  but  as  modest  and  unassuming  as 
they  are  handsome,  they  might  command  the  hearts  of 
all  that  behold  them.  But  nature  seemed  to  foresee, 
and  has  provided  against  such  an  inconvenience,  by 
tempering  its  greatest  masterpieces  with  a  due  pro- 
portion of  pride  and  vanity ;  so  that  their  power, 
depending  upon  the  duration  of  their  beauty  only,  is 
like  to  be  but  of  a  short  continuance ;  which,  when 
they  happen  to  prove  tyrants,  is  no  small  comfort  to 
us ;  and  then,  even  while  it  lasts,  will  abate  much  of 
its  severity  by  the  alloy  of  those  two  prevailing  ingre- 
dients. 

Wise  men  are  chiefly  captivated  with  the  charms  of 
the  mind ;  and  whenever  they  are  infatuated  with  a 
passion  for  anything  else,  it  is  generally  observed  that 
they  cease,  during  that  time  at  least,  to  be  what  they 
were,  and  are  indeed  looked  upon  to  be  only  playing 
the  fool. 


KNOWING  HOW  TO  USE  MONEY. 

There  is  one  inferior  or  subordinate  branch  of  knowl- 
edge which  great  learning  overlooks,  and  great  gen- 
ius contemns,  though,  in  all  ages  of  the  world,  learning 
and  genius  have  suffered  sore  hardships  and  perplexi- 
ties for  the  lack  of  it — I  mean  the  knowledge  of  the 
use  of  money. 

This  is,  it  must  be  owned,  a  vulgar  kind  of  knowl- 
edge, amply  possessed,  not  unfrequently,  by  minds  of 
the  baser  sort.  So  far  is  it  from  entering  into  the 
scope  of  scholastic  education,  that  few  are  more  desti- 
tute of  it  than  some  of  the  deepest  scholars.  The 
studies  they  pursue  are  altogether  foreign  from  this, 
and  the  classical  authors  which  they  most  admire  speak 
of  it  with  contempt.    It  is  the  ambition  of  the  studious 


THE    PICTURE   PEEACHER.  Ill 

boy  to  be  a  fine  scholar.  This  object,  along*  with  vir- 
tuous dispositions,  embraces,  in  his  estimation,  every- 
thing desirable  in  character.  After  a  painful  and  laud- 
able coui'se  of  exertions  he  attains  it.  He  steps  forth 
into  the  busy  world  in  the  majesty  of  learning.  By 
all  men  that  are  scholars  themselves,  his  parts  and 
progress  are  admired.  He  has  great  talents,  rare  tal- 
ents, sliining  talents,  and  all  sense  but  common  sense. 

He  knows  the  reputed  number  of  the  visible  stars  in 
the  firmament,  and  not  a  few  of  them  he  can  call  by 
their  names.  In  metaphysical  acumen  he  is  keen  and 
can  split  hairs  with  an  edge  finer  and  sharper  than  a 
razor's.  In  the  most  celebrated  languages  of  antiquity, 
and  perhaps  in  several  modern  languages,  he  is  mar- 
vellously skilled.  But  in  respect  to  that  ordinary  traffic, 
which  all,  who  have  bodies  to  feed  and  clothe  must  be 
concerned  in,  he  knows  less  than  a  market  boy  at  the 
age  of  twelve.  And  how  will  he  ever  get  this  kind  of 
knowledire  ?  His  books  teach  it  not,  and  besides  to 
make  it  an  object  of  practical  attention  is  repugnant, 
alike  to  his  habits  and  feelings.  Thus  richly  endowed, 
and  meanwhile  deplorably  lacking,  he  steps  into  the 
busy  world — and  experience  tells  the  rest. 

It  is  no  uncommon  thing  to  find  men  of  excellent 
parts  and  profound  erudition,  who,  nevertheless,  of  the 
little  afiairs  of  practical  life,  are  as  ignorant  as  chil- 
dren. In  their  dealing  they  are  exposed  to  daily  impo- 
sitions ;  the  sharks  of  society  prey  upon  them,  and 
they  perceive  it  not.  If  they  employ  laborers  they 
know  neither  how  to  direct  them  nor  now  to  estimate 
their  services  ;  and  are  quite  as  likely  to  find  fault  with 
the  honest  and  faithful,  as  with  those  who  defraud  them 
and  artfully  cover  the  cheat.  If  they  have  an  income 
which,  rightly  managed,  would  be  sufficient,  it  melts 
away  in  their  improvident  hands,  and  they  suffer  want. 
In  whatever  pertains  to  abstract  science  they  are  enti- 
tled to  rank  with  the  great;  but  in  everything  that 
relates  to  the  supply  of  their  daily  necessities  or  those 

r  OF  TIIK 

I  XJNIVERS 


112        BOYAL  ROAD  TO  HAPPINESS;  OR 

of  their  families,  they  are  the  least  among  the  little. 
Though  they  have  an  accurate  knowledge  of  the  map 
of  the  heavens  and  the  earth,  as  they  know  nothing,  or 
next  to  notliing,  of  the  things  about  them,  they  are 
more  pitiable  for  their  ignorance  than  enviable  for  their 
learning. 

This  sort  of  helplessness  does  not,  however,  befall 
the  learned  only ;  it  is  alike  common  to  the  inheritors 
of  opulence.  As  they  who,  from  childhood,  have  been 
altogether  engaged  in  scientific  pursuits,  know  less  of 
the  economy  of  the  family  than  the  economy  of  the 
visible  heavens,  so  they  that  are  born  to  the  inheritance 
of  wealth  are  naturally  inclined  to  despise  the  very 
name  and  appearance  of  economy  as  little  and  mean. 
Possessing  a  superfluity  of  money,  which  they  never 
knew  the  getting  of,  they  squander  rather  than  spend 
it,  and  in  a  very  little  while  the  fruits  of  a  whole  age 
of  painful  industry  are  utterly  wasted  and  gone.  Not 
always  from  an  uncommon  depravity  of  the  heart,  but 
sometimes — ^nay  often,  merely  the  lack  of  ordinary 
prudence ;  of  that  worldly  prudence,  the  study  of,  ob- 
servance of,  which  they  deemed  beneath  their  condi- 
tion. 

**  The  love  of  money,"  (not  money  itself),  ^4s  the 
root  of  all  evil."  There  is  almost  no  evil  to  which  the 
inordinate  love  of  money  has  not  given  birth  or  aid. 
But  if  things  were  to  be  estimated  merely  by  the 
abuse  of  them,  literature,  science,  the  lights  of  reason, 
and  even  reason  itself,  must  fall  under  reproach. 

What  though  money  be  the  idol  of  griping  avarice 
and  the  pillar  of  devouring  ambition  ?  What  though 
it  minister  in  a  thousand  ways  to  the  lusts  of  men  ? 
What  though  to  many  it  opens  the  flood-gates  of  vice  ? 
What  though  the  sordid  seek  it  as  the  chief  good,  and 
the  knavish  snatch  it  by  whatever  means  ?  Is  money 
itself  in  fault  I  Is  it  not  a  blessing  after  all  ?  If  it  be 
not  a  blessing  then  it  follows  that  the  naked,  famishing 
savage  is  as  well  off  as  the  well-fed  and  well-clothed 


THE   PICTURE   PREACHER.  113 

European  or  American  ;  that  vile,  smoky  cabins  are  as 
comfortable  as  choice  houses,  and  that  civilization  itself 
is  po  better  than  the  forlorn  state  of  nature. 

Money  is,  indeed,  a  great  blessing,  and  the  knowl- 
edge of  using  money  as  not  abusing  it — charitably, 
whenever  charity  calls,  but  always  discreetly — is  an 
interesting  branch  of  knowledge,  and  well  deserves  a 
place  in  our  systems  of  education.  For  it  is  far  more 
important  to  learn  to  guide  our  affairs  with  discretion 
than  to  ^^ speak  with  tongues."  Neither  is  any  other 
science  so  often  and  so  urgently  needed  as  homely 
household  science — or  practical  skill  in  managing 
those  little  domestic  and  personal  concerns,  which 
every  day  of  life  brings  along  with  it. 


THE  HARES  AND  THE  FROGS. 

Upon  a  great  storm  of  wind  that  blew  among  the 
trees  and  bushes  and  made  a  rustling  among  the  leaves, 
the  hares,  in  a  certain  park  where  there  happened  to 
be  plenty  of  them,  were  so  terribly  frightened  that 
they  ran  like  mad  all  over  the  place  resolving  to  seek 
out  some  retreat  of  more  security,  or  to  end  their  un- 
happy days  by  doing  violence  to  themselves.  With 
this  resolution  they  found  an  outlet  where  a  pale  had 
been  broken  down,  and  bolting  forth  upon  an  adjoin- 
ing common,  had  not  run  far  before  their  course  was 
stopped  by  that  of  a  gentle  brook,  which  glided  across 
the  way  they  intended  to  take. 

This  was  so  grievous  a  disappointment  that  they 
were  not  able  to  bear  it,  and  they  determined  rather  to 
throw  themselves  headlong  into  the  water,  let  what 
would  become  of  it,  than  lead  a  life  so  full  of  dangers 
and  crosses.  But  upon  their  coming  to  the  brink  of  the 
river  a  parcel  of  frogs,  which  were  sitting  there,  fright- 
ened at  their  approach,  leaped  into  the  stream  in  great 
confusion,  and   dived  to   the   very   bottom,  for   fear, 


114  ROYAL   ROAD   TO   HAPPII^ESS;   OR 

which  a  cunning  old  puss  observing,  called  to  the  rest 
and  said,  ^^  Hold,  have  a  care  what  ye  do ;  here  are 
other  creatures,  I  perceive,  which  have  their  fears  as 
well  as  we;  don't,  then,  let  us  fancy  ourselves  the  most 
miserable  of  any  upon  earth,  but  rather  to  bear 
patiently  those  inconveniences  which  our  nature  has 
thrown  upon  us." 

Application. — This  fable  is  designed  to  show  us  how 
unreasonable  many  people  are  for  living  in  such  con- 
tinual fears  and  disquiets  about  the  miserableness  of 
their  condition.  There  is  hardly  any  state  of  life  great 
enough  to  satisfy  the  wishes  of  an  ambitious  man,  and 
scarce  any  so  mean  but  may  supply  all  the  necessities 
of  him  that  is  moderate. 

But  if  people  will  be  so  unwise  as  to  work  them- 
selves up  to  imaginary  misfortunes,  why  do  they  grum- 
-ble  at  nature  and  their  stars,  when  their  own  perverse 
minds  are  only  to  blame.  If  we  are  to  conclude  our- 
selves unhappy  by  as  many  degrees  as  there  are  others 
greater  than  we,  why,  then,  the  greatest  part  of  man- 
kind must  be  miserable,  in  some  degree  at  least  But, 
if  they  who  repine  at  their  own  afflicted  condition, 
would  but  reckon  up  how  many  more  there  are  with 
whom  they  would  not  change  cases  than  those  whose 
pleasures  they  envy,  they  would  certainly  rise  up  bet- 
ter satisfied  from  such  a  calculation.  The  look  down- 
ward, on  those  worse  off  than  ourselves,  would  disclose 
a  numerous  company.  We  can  hardly  fare  so  badly, 
that  we  may  not  easily  fare  worse. 

But  what  shall  we  say  to  those  who  have  a  way  of 
creating  themselves  panics  from  the  rustling  of  the 
wind,  the  scratching  of  a  rat  or  mouse  behind  the 
hangings,  the  fluttering  of  a  moth,  or  the  motion  of 
their  own  shadow  by  moonlight  I  Their  whole  life  is 
as  full  of  alarms  as  that  of  a  hare,  and  they  never 
think  themselves  so  unhappy  as  when,  like  the  timor- 
ous folks  in  the  fable,  they  meet  with  a  set  of  crea- 
tures as  fearful  as  themselves. 


THE   PICTURE   PREACHER. 


115 


THE  HARES  AND  THE  FROGS. 


Who  art  thou,  that  shoiddest  he  afraid  of  a  man  that  shall  die. 
and  the  son  of  man  which  shall  be  made  as  grass?     Isa.  li.  12. 

All  things  come  alike  to  all :  one  event  to  the  righteous  and 

to  the  wicked,      Eccl.  ix.  2. Behold  we  count  them  happy 

wfiich  endure.  James  v.  11. Beloved^  think  it  not  strange  con- 
cerning the  fiery  trial  which  is  to  try  you^  as  though  some  strange 
thing  happened  unto  you,    L  Pet.  iv.  12. 


116  EOYAL   ROAD   TO   HAPPINESS;   OR 


WISDOM  AND  CUNNING. 

'*  Cunning,"  says  Mr.  Locke,  in  his  excellent  treatise 
on  education — ^'  cunning,  which  is  the  ape  of  wisdom, 
is  the  most  distant  from  it  that  can  be ;  and  as  an  ape, 
for  tlie  likeness  to  a  man,  is  wanting  what  should  make 
him  so,  is  by  so  much  the  more  the  uglier.  Cumiing 
is  only  the  want  of  understanding,  which,  because  it 
cannot  compass  its  ends  by  direct  ways,  would  do  it  by 
trick  and  circumvention.  No  cover  was  ever  made  so 
big  or  so  fine  as  to  hide  itself.  None  were  so  cunning 
as  to  conceal  their  being  so." 

The  fox  is  the  most  noted  of  any  of  the  inferior  ani- 
mals for  craft  and  roguery,  yet  it  has  been  said  of  him 
that  he  is  one  of  the  most  miserable  of  all  the  brute 
creation.  He  does  not  appear  to  have  a  friend  upon 
the  earth.  The  honester  dog  hunts  him  with  peculiar 
malice.  Every  four-footed  animal  seems  to  bear  him  a 
grudge ;  the  weaker  shun  him,  and  the  stronger  pur- 
sue him.  The  very  birds,  knowing  his  craft,  hover  in 
the  air  over  him,  and  seem  to  utter  their  apprehen- 
sions and  their  hatred.  They  alight  on  the  trees  and 
the  hedges,  as  he  is  slyly  creeping  along  on  the  ground 
beneath,  and  with  loud  cries  and  chatterings  give 
warning  of  his  approach,  as  who  should  say,  "  yonder  ' 
goes  a  cunning,  beguiling,  greedy  rogue :  take  special 
care  of  yourselves."  Thus,  also  fares,  for  the  most 
part,  with  those  of  Adam's  children  who  have  much 
cunning,  but  no  principle  of  honesty. 

The  arts  of  falsehood  and  trick,  whether  on  a  large 
scale  or  small  one,  are  but  foolishness,  however  subtly 
managed. 

"  The  secret  snare,  when  falsehood  spreads 
Herself^  she  fetters  in  the  subtle  threads.'* 

Craft,  partaking  as  it  does  of  moral  turpitude,  which 
it  perpetually  strives  to  conceal,  exposes  itself  by  its 
efforts  at  concealment,  as  the  serpent  tells  us  where  to 


THE   PICTURE   PREACHER. 


117 


WISDOM  AND  CUNNING. 


Whatsoever  things  are  true,  whatsoever  things  are  honest,  what- 
soever things  are  just  .  .  .  pure,  lovely  ,    .    ,  of  good  report  .  . 

.  .  seen  in  me,  do.     Phil.  iv.  8,  9. Abstain  from  all  appearance 

of  evil.     V.  22. For  the  wisdom  of  this  world  is  foolishness 

with  God ;  .  .  .  taketh  the  wise  in  their  own  craftiness,    I.  Cor.  iii, 

19. Deceit  is  in  the  heart  of  them  that  imagine  evil.    Pro  v.  xii. 

20. The  testimony  of  our  conscience  that  in  simplicity  and 

godly  sincerity  ,  ,  ,  ,  we  have  our  conversation  in  the  world.     II. 
Cor.  i.  12. 


118        KOYAL  KOAD  TO  HAPPINESS;  OR 

strike  him  by  covering  his  head.  Whether  in  the  pri- 
vate or  public  walks  of  life  an  honest  poHcy  will  be 
found  to  wear  the  best. 

There  are  but  few  particulars  in  which  mankind 
more  often  misjudge  than  in  this.  They  are  apt  to 
think  that  the  unprincipled  are  artful  because  they  dis- 
play considerable  cunning,  are  men  of  superior  parts ; 
whereas,  generally  speaking,  their  minds  are  narrow. 
You  will  seldom  find  one  of  them  possessed  of  true 
clearness  and  largeness  of  understanding.  .  .  Many 
a  father  is  secretly  gratified  with  the  slyness  and  the 
fox-like  tricks  of  his  boy,  when,  in  reality,  he  has  all 
reason  to  apprehend  that  the  boy  is  getting  to  be  a 
confirmed  villain  in  grain,  and  will  have  a  genius  for 
nothing  else. 

A  true-hearted,  noble  soul  despises  all  low  trickery 
and  cunning  to  obtain  any  desirable  object.  He  can 
say  with  the  generous-hearted  young  prince  who  was 
struck  at  once  with  the  utmost  aversion  and  disgust  at 
the  base  proposal  of  his  doing  anything  low  or  igno- 
ble to  gain  a  certain  point.     He  says : 

"  I  was  not  born  to  flatter  or  betray 

— what  open  arms  can  do 
Behold  me  to  act,  but  ne'er  to  fraud 
Will  I  descend 

O,  king,  believe  me, 
Rather,  much  rather,  would  I  fall  by  virtue, 
Than  lise  by  guilt  to  certain  victory." 

This  was  the  spirit  which  a  true  man,  who  detested 
all  kinds  of  lying,  who,  when  charged  with  a  certain 
crime,  absolutely  denied  it,  saying,  invoking  upon 
himself  the  direst  earthly  evil  that  could  fall  upon 
him — 

— "  and  when  I  lie  to  save  my  life, 
May  I  live  long,  and  loathed." 

Were  all  actuated  by  principles  so  lofty,  this  life 
would  soon  be  purified  of  its  worst  evils.  As  truth 
prevails,  so  all  that  brightens  life  prevails. 


THE    PICTURE    PREACHER.  119 


CONTENTMENT. 


**  Contentment,"  says  an  ancient  philosopher,  ^4s 
natural  wealth :"  to  which  some  one  has  added,  ^'  Lux- 
ury is  artificial  poverty;"  and  if  it  does  not  bring 
riches  it  does  very  much  the  same  by  banishing  all 
inordinate  desires  after  them.  If  it  cannot  remove  the 
disquietudes  arising  out  of  a  man's  mind,  body  or  for- 
tune, it  makes  him  easy  under  them.  It  has,  indeed,  a 
kindly  influence  on  the  soul  of  a  man,  in  respect  of 
every  being  to  w^hom  he  stands  related.  It  extin- 
guishes all  murmur  and  ingratitude  toward  that  Being 
who  has  allotted  him  his  part  to  act  in  the  world.  It 
destroys  all  inordinate  ambition,  and  every  tendency 
to  corruption  with  regard  to  the  community  wherein 
he  is  placed.  It  gives  sweetness  to  his  conversation 
and  serenity  to  his  thoughts. 

In  order  to  attain  this  state  of  mind  a  man  in  the  first 
place  should  think  how  much  more  he  already  has  than 
what  is  absolutely  necessary  to  sustain  his  present 
wants ;  and  secondly,  how  much  worse  he  might  be 
than  what  he  finds  himself  to  be  at  the  present  time. 
Foolish  men  are  apt  to  consider  w4iat  they  have  lost, 
rather  than  what  they  possess,  and  to  fix  their  eyes  on 
those  who  are  richer  than  themselves,  rather  than  those 
who  are  under  greater  difficulties.  All  the  real  pleas- 
ures and  conveniences  of  life  lie  in  a  narrow  compass ; 
but  it  is  generally  the  way  of  mankind  to  be  always 
looking  forward  to,  and  straining  after  one  who  has 
got  the  start  of  them  in  wealth  and  honor. 

Persons  of  higher  rank  live  in  a  kind  of  splendid 
poverty,  and  are  perpetually  wanting,  because,  instead 
of  acquiescing  in  the  solid  pleasures  of  life,  they 
endeavor  to  outvie  one  another  in  shadows  and  appear- 
ances. .  .  Sensible  men  are  at  all  times  tempted  to 
smile  at  this  silly  game  that  is  playing  over  their  heads, 
and  by  contracting  their  desires,  enjoy  all  that  secret 
satisfaction  of  which  others  are  in  quest.     The  truth  is 


120  ROYAL   ROAD   TO   HAPPINESS;   OR 

that  this  foolish  chase  after  imaginary  pleasure  ought 
to  be  reprobated,  as  it  is  a  source  of  one  of  the  evils 
which  impoverish  and  generally  ruin  a  nation.  Let  a 
man's  estate  be  what  it  will,  he  is  a  poor  man  who  does 
not  live  within  it  and  naturally  sets  himself  for  a  sale 
to  any  one  who  can  give  him  his  price. 

We  are  all  liablis  to  accidents  and  misfortunes  which 
no  foresight  of  our  own  can  prevent,  but  generally  we 
have  cause  for  gratitude  that  they  are  no  worse.  The 
person  who  fell  down  a  flight  of  stairs  and  broke  his 
leg  had  the  right  spirit  when  he  exclaimed  to  those  who 
came  to  his  assistance — ^^  I  feel  thankful  to  God  that  it 
was  not  my  neck."  We  find  a  similar  instance  in  the 
life  of  Dr.  Hammond,  by  Bishop  Fell.  This  good 
man  suffered  under  a  complication  of  disorders  ;  when 
he  had  the  gout  upon  him,  he  used  to  thank  God  that 
it  was  not*  the  stone  ;  and  when  he  had  the  stone,  that 
he  had  not  both  these  disorders  upon  him  at  the  same 
time. 

"  There  was  never  a  system,"  says  a  celebrated 
writer  on  moral  subjects,  ^^  besides  that  of  Christianity, 
which  will  produce  in  the  mind  of  man  the  gemiine 
spirit  of  contentment.  Some  philosophers  tell  us  that 
our  discontent  only  hurts  ourselves  without  being  able 
to  make  any  alteration  in  our  circumstances  ;  others, 
that  whatever  evil  befalls  us  is  derived  to  us  by  fatal 
necessity  to  which  all  things  are  subject ;  while  others 
gravely  tell  the  man  who  is  miserable  that  it  is  neces- 
sary he  should  be  so,  to  keep  up  the  harmony  of  the 
universe,  and  that  the  scheme  of  Providence  would  be 
perverted  were  he  otherwise.  Such  considerations 
rather  silence  than  satisfy  the  mind.  They  may  show 
a  man  that  his  discontent  is  unreasonable,  but  it  gives 
very  little  consolation,  but  rather  despair. 

On  the  contrary,  the  Cliristian  religion  bears  a  more 
tender  regard  for  human  nature.  *^  It  prescribes  to 
every  miserable  man  the  means  of  bettering  his  con- 
dition ;  nay,  it  shows  him  the  bearing  of  his  afflictions 


THE    PICTURE    PREACHER.  121 

as  he  ought  to  do  will  naturally  end  in  their  removal. 
It  makes  him  easy  here,  and  can  make  him  happy 
hereafter." 

The  following  lines  from  Mr.  Leavitt's  Lessons  for 
Schools  contain  much  ti'uth  and  common  sense 
philosophy : 

CONTENTMENT. 

1.  One  honest  John  Tompkins,  a  hedger  and  ditcher, 

Although  he  wasjooor,  did  not  want  to  be  richer  ; 
For  all  such  vain  wishes  in  him  were  prevented, 
By  a  fortunate  habit  of  being  contented. 

2.  Tho*  cold  was  the  weather,  or  dear  was  ih^food, 

John  never  was  found  in  a  murmuring  mood; 
For  this  he  was  constantly  heard  to  declare — 

What  he  could  woX,  prevent,  he  would  cheerfully  hear, 

3.  For  why  should  I  grumble  and  murmnr,  he  said. 

If  I  cannot  get  meat,  1  can  surely  get  bread  j 

And  tho'  fretting  7nay  make  my  calamities  deeper^ 

It  never  caused  bread  and  cheese  to  be  cheaper, 

4.  If  John  was  afflicted  with  sickness  or  pain, 

He  wished  \)\m^Q\i  better,  but  did  not  complain  j 
Nor  lie  down  and/>6^  in  despondence  and  sorrow, 
But  said  that  he  hoped  to  be  better  to-morrow. 

5.  If  any  one  wronged  him,  or  treated  him  ill, 

Why  John  was  good-natured,  and  sociable  still; 
For  he  said  that  revenging  the  injury  done 

Would  be  making  two  fools  when  there  need  be  but  one, 

6.  And  thus  honest  John,  though  his  station  was  humble, 

Pass'd  through  this  sad  world  without  eve)h  a  grumble  / 
And  I  wish  that  some  folks,  who  are  greater  and  richer, 
Would  copy  John  Tompkins,  the  hedger  and  ditcher. 


GREEDINESS  OVER-REACHES  ITSELF. 

The  engraving  here  given  is  an  illustration  of  one 
of  Dodley's  Fables  in  a  London  edition  of  that  work, 
entitled  *^The  two  Bees.'^  It  shows  a  company  of 
rather  ragged  boys  around  a  partially-filled  hogshead 
of  molasses  or  sugar  left  outside  of  a  grocery  store. 
6 


122 


EOYAL   EOAD   TO   HAPPINESS;   OE 


^SS_PIJIVISHE5 


GREEDINESS. 


Let  your  moderation  he  known  to  all  men,  Phil.  iv.  6. Take 

heed  and  beware  of  covetonsness;  for  a  man's  life  consisteth  not 

in  the  abundance  of  the  things  he  possesseth,     Luke  xii.  15. 

Take  heed lest  your  heartsbe  overcharged  with  surfeiting, 

Luke  xxi.  34. He  hath  swallowed  down  riches^  and  he  shall 

vomit  them  up  again.     Job  xx.  1 5. Stolen  waters  are  sweet, 

Prov.  ix.  17. ....  Use  this  world  as  not  abusing  it.     1.  Cor. 

vil  31. 


THE    PICTURE    PREACHER.  123 

The  parents  of  these  boys  being  poor  they  were  not 
able  to  furnish  these  luxuries,  as  they  are  sometimes 
called,  to  the  extent  which  the  boys  wanted.  They 
eagerly  took  this  opportunity  to  supply  their  wants 
without  any  expense.  These  precious  sweets  oozed 
out  between  the  crevices  in  the  hogshead,  and  by  care- 
fully gathering  all  that  came  out,  they  were  able  to 
supply  all  their  moderate  wants. 

One  of  the  lads,  more  eager  than  the  rest  to  gain  a 
full  supply  at  once,  climbed  to  the  top  of  the  hogs- 
head where,  losing  his  balance,  he  fell  in  head  first. 
How  he  got  out  is  not  stated,  but  it  is  evident  he  expe- 
rienced the  truth  of  the  saying  or  motto,  ^^Too  much 
of  a  good  thing  is  worse  than  nothing."  The  fable  of 
Dodsley  is  as  follows : 

*^  On  a  fine  morning  in  May  two  bees  set  forward  in 
quest  of  honey;  the  one  wise  and  temperate,  the 
other  careless  and  extravagant.  They  soon  arrived  at 
a  garden,  enriched  with  aromatic  herbs,  the  most  fra- 
grant flowers  and  the  most  delicious  fruits. 

They  regaled  themselves  a  while  on  the  various 
dainties  set  before  them,  the  one  loading  himself  at 
intervals  with  provisions  for  the  hive  against  the  dis- 
tant winter;  the  other  revelling  in  sweets  without 
regard  to  anything  but  his  present  gratification. 

At  length  they  found  a  wide-mouthed  vial  that  hung 
beneath  the  bough  of  a  peach  tree,  filled  with  honey 
ready  tempered  and  exposed  to  their  taste,  in  the  most 
alluring  manner.  The  thoughtless  epicure,  heedless  of 
his  friend's  remonstrances,  plunged  headlong  into  the 
vessel,  resolving  to  indulge  himself  in  all  the  pleasures 
of  sensuality. 

The  philosopher,  on  the  other  hand,  sipped  a  little 
with  caution ;  but  being  suspicious  of  danger,  flew  off 
to  fruit  and  flowers  where,  by  the  moderation  of  his 
meals,  he  improved  his  relish  for  the  true  enjoyment 
of  them. 

In  the  evening,  however,  he  called  upon  his  friend 


124        ROYAL  ROAD  TO  HAPPINESS;  OR 

to  inquire  whether  he  would  return  to  the  hive,  but 
found  him  sui-feited  in  sweets  which  he  was  as  unable 
to  leave  as  to  enjoy. 

Clogged  in  his  wings,  enfeebled  in  his  feet,  and  his 
whole  frame  totally  enervated,  he  was  but  just  able  to 
bid  his  friend  adieu,  and  to  lament  with  his  latest 
breath  that  though  a  taste  of  pleasure  may  quicken 
the  relish  of  life,  an  um-estrained  indulgence  is  inevi- 
table destruction." 

The  temperate  enjoy  even  sensual  pleasure  in  a  far 
higher  degree  than  those  w4io  give  themselves  to  a  full 
indulgence.  Their  appetites  remain  keen,  so  that  every 
time  they  indulge  it  is  with  an  exquisite  relish. 

A  popular  confectioner,  who  had  his  candies  invit- 
ingly exposed  to  the  easy  fingering  of  every  one  who 
entered  his  establishment,  was  asked,  ^^  Don't  you  lose 
a  great  deal  by  having  your  candies  spread  open 
instead  of  their  being  covered  by  glass?"  "Yes, 
something,"  said  he  ;  *^but  I  do  this  for  a  purpose.  I 
want  them  to  nip — the  first  taste  is  always  the  best — 
and  having  that  first  taste,  many  buy  who  otherwise 
would  not,  so  through  nipping  my  business  is  doubled." 


THE  SHEPHERD  TURNED  MERCHANT. 

A  shepherd,  that  kept  his  sheep  near  the  sea,  one 
clear,  summer's  day,  drove  them  close  to  the  shore  and 
sat  down  upon  a  piece  of  rock  to  enjoy  the  cool  breeze 
that  came  from  the  water.  The  green  element 
appeared  calm  and  smooth,  and  Thetis,  with  her  train 
of  smiling  and  beautiful  nymphs,  seemed  to  dance 
upon  the  floating  surface  of  the  deep. 

The  shepherd's  heart  thrilled  with  secret  pleasure, 
and  he  began  to  wish  for  the  life  of  a  merchant.  "  0, 
how  happy,"  says  he,  "should  I  be  to  plow  this  liquid 
plain  in  a  pretty,  light  vessel  of  my  own !  and  to  visit 
the  remote  parts  of  the  world  instead  of  sitting  idly 


THE   PICTURE   PEEACHER.  125 

here  to  look  upon  a  parcel  of  senseless  sheep,  while 
they  are  grazing.  Then  what  ample  returns  should  I 
make  in  the  way  of  traffic,  and  what  a  short  and  cer- 
tain path  would  this  bo  to  riches  and  honor;''  in  short, 
this  thought  was  improved  into  a  resolution. 

Away  he  posted  with  all  expedition,  sold  his  flock 
and  all  that  he  had.  Then  he  bought  a  bark  and  fitted 
it  out  for  his  voyage ;  he  loaded  it  with  a  cargo  of  dates 
and  set  sail  for  a  mart  that  was  held  upon  the  coast  of 
Asia^  five  hundred  leagues  off.  He  had  not  been  long 
at  sea  before  the  wind  began  to  blow  tempestuously, 
and  the  waves  to  rage  and  swell ;  the  violence  of  the 
weather  increased  upon  him,  his  ship  was  in  danger  of 
sinking  and  he  was  obliged  to  lighten  her  by  throwing 
all  of  his  dates  overboard ;  after  this  his  vessel  was 
driven  upon  a  rock  near  the  shore  and  split  to  pieces  ; 
he  himself  hardly  escaped  with  life. 

Poor,  and  destitute  of  subsistence,  he  applied  him- 
self to  the  man  who  had  bought  his  flock,  and  was 
admitted  to  tend  it  as  a  hireling.  He  sat  in  the  same 
place  as  before  and  the  ocean  again  looked  calm  and 
smooth.  "  Ah,"  says  he  *^  deceitful,  tempting  element, 
in  vain  you  try  to  engage  me  a  second  time ;  my  mis- 
fortunes have  left  me  too  poor  to  be  deluded  again  the 
same  way ;  and  experience  has  made  me  so  wise  as  to 
resolve,  whatever  my  condition  may  be,  never  to  trust 
thy  faithless  bosom  more." 

Application. — Bought  wit  is  test ;  and  the  more  vari- 
ety of  disappointments  we  meet  with  the  greater  will 
be  our  experience  and  the  better  we  shall  be  qualified 
to  rub  through  the  world.  Mankind  has  a  strange  pro- 
pensity for  things  that  are  novel  and  untried ;  and  so 
strong  a  bias  inclines  them  to  shifting  and  changing, 
that  every  one  disrelishes  his  own  profession  and  wishes 
he  had  been  of  some  other  employment. 

The  young  academic,  designed  for  the  most  grave  of 
all  professions,  hates  to  think  of  his  peculiar  habit,  or 
that  formal,  reserved  deportment  by  which  he  is  to  aep- 


126        ROYAL  ROAD  TO  HAPPINESS;  OR 

arate  himself  from  what  he  counts  the  pleasures  of  the 
world,  and  bid  adieu  to  that  irregularity  which  youth 
SO  much  delights  in.  He  longs  for  a  commission  in 
the  army  that  he  may  be  fashionably  licentious,  and 
indulge  himself  unquestioned,  in  the  wanton  sallies  of 
a  brisk,  youthful  appetite. 

In  the  mean  time,  the  old  soldier,  harassed  out  with 
laborious  campaigns  abroad,  and  vexed  with  the  slow 
returns  of  his  half  pay  at  home,  repines  at  the  happy 
condition  of  the  ecclesiastic,  fattening  in  ease  and 
plenty,  and  sleeping  unmolested  in  one  of  the  upper 
stalls  of  a  cathedral.  With  remorse  he  calls  to  mind 
his  former  perverseness  in  quitting  a  college  life,  and 
defeating  the  purpose  of  his  relatives  who  had  pur- 
chased the  next  reversion  of  a  fat  benefice  for  him. 
He  shakes  his  head  and  reflects  that  if  it  had  not  been 
for  his  folly,  instead  of  aching  limbs  and  an  empty 
purse,  he  might  have  enjoyed  as  much  ease  and  luxury 
as  any  priest  in  the  land. 

Thus,  sometimes  with  and  sometimes  without  reason, 
we  are  disgusted  with  our  station,  and  envy  those  who 
are  embarked  in  another  way  ;  which,  however,  it  may 
seem  to  be  a  misfortune  entailed  upon  us,  yet  carries 
this  advantage  with  it,  that  as  we  are  almost  sure  of 
being  disappointed  by  a  change,  we  are  as  certain  like- 
wise of  gaining  some  experience  by  the  bargain,  and 
being  wiser  for  the  future. 


THE  CEOW  AND  THE  PITCHER. 

A  crow  ready  to  die  with  thirst,  flew  with  joy  to  a 
pitcher,  which  he  beheld  at  some  distance.  When  he 
came  he  found  water  in  it  indeed,  but  so  near  the  bot- 
tom, with  all  his  stooping  and  straining,  he  was  unable 
to  reach  it.  Then  he  endeavored  to  overturn  the 
pitcher,  so  at  least  he  might  be  able  to  get  a  little  of  it, 
but  his  strength  was  not  sufficient  for  this.     At  last, 


THE   PICTUKE   PREACHER. 


127 


^       Mind  ACCOiVi PUSHES 
'^B    ^hat  stretifftlt  cannot^ 


THE  CROW  AND  THE  PITCHER. 


I  have  filled  him  ,  ,  ,  ,  in  wisdom^  and  in  understanding  and  in 
knowledge.  Exod.  xxxi.  3. Thou  shall  mahe^me  to  know  wis- 
dom,    Psa.  li.  6. Wisdom  is  better  than  strength,     Eccl.  ix.  16. 

A  man  of  understanding  hath  wisdom,     Prov.  x.  23. The 

Lord  giveth  wisdom^  • . . .  knowledge  and  understanding,    Prov.  iL 

6. He  that  handleth  a  matter  wisely  shall  find  good,    Prov. 

xvi.  20. But  there  is  a  spirit  in  man^  and  the  inspiration  of 

the  Almighty  giveth  them  understanding.     Job  xxxil  8, 


128        ROYAL  ROAD  TO  HAPPINESS;  OR 

seeing  some  pebbles  near  the  place,  he  cast  them  one 
by  one  into  the  pitcher,  and  thus  by  degrees  raised  the 
water  up  to  the  brim,  and  satisfied  his  thirst. 

Application. — Many  things  which  cannot  be  effected 
by  strength,  may  yet  be  brought  about  by  some  new 
and  untried  means.  A  man  of  sagacity  and  penetra- 
tion, upon  encountering  a  difficulty  or  two,  does  not 
despair ;  but  if  he  cannot  succeed  one  way,  employs 
his  wit  and  ingenuity  another ;  and,  to  avoid  or  get  over 
an  impediment,  makes  no  scruple  of  stepping  out  of 
the  path  of  his  forefathers.  Since  our  happiness,  next 
to  the  regulation  of  our  minds,  depends  altogether 
upon  our  having  and  enjoying  the  conveniences  of  life, 
why  should  we  stand  upon  ceremony  about  the  meth- 
ods of  obtaining  them,  or  pay  any  deference  to  antiquity 
upon  that  score  ? 

If  almost  every  age  had  not  exerted  itself  In  some 
new  improvements  of  its  own,  we  should  want  a  thou- 
sand arts,  or  at  least  many  degrees  of  perfection  in 
every  art,  of  which  at  present  we  are  in  possession. 
The  invention  of  anything,  which  is  more  commodious 
for  the  mind  and  body  than  what  they  had  before, 
ought  to  be  embraced  readily,  and  the  projector  of  it 
distinguished  with  a  suitable  encouragement,  such  as 
the  use  of  the  compass,  for  example,  from  which  man- 
kind reaps  much  benefit  and  advantage,  and  which  was 
not  known  to  former  agfes. 

When  we  follow  the  steps  of  those  who  have  gone 
before  us  in  the  old  beaten  track  of  life,  how  do  we 
differ  from  horses  in  a  team,  which  are  linked  to  each 
other  by  a  chain  or  harness,  and  move  on  in  a  dull, 
heavy  pace,  to  the  tune  of  their  leader's  bells  I  But 
the  man  who  enriches  the  present  fund  of  knowledge 
with  some  new  and  useful  improvement,  like  a  happy 
adventurer  at  sea,  discovers,  as  it  were,  unknown  land, 
and  imports  an  additional  trade  into  his  own  country. 
He  does  what  he  can  to  add  to  the  general  stock  of 
human  comfort  and  usefulness. 


THE    PICTURE    PREACHER.  129 

GREEDY  AMBITION  AFTER  WEALTH. 

Ambition's  thorny  path  is  too  narrow  for  two  to  go 
abreast.  Each  struggles  hard  to  get  forward  of  each, 
and  the  one  that  is  the  foremost  of  all  must  press  onward 
with  mi  gilt  and  main,  else  some  other  will  rush  by  him. 
He  that  stumbles  is  trampled  over  by  the  crowd  behind 
him.  It  is  all  a  scramble,  in  which  successful  compet- 
itors are  greeted  with  shouts  of  applause,  and  the  un- 
successful assailed  with  the  hisses  of  derision  and  scorn. 

In  a  former  age  it  was  the  ambition  of  the  celebrated 
Cardinal  de  Retz  to  be  first  in  the  hearts  of  his  fellow- 
citizens,  the  Parisians.  His  munificence  exceeded  all 
former  example ;  his  liberalities  were  unbounded.  The 
courtesy  of  his  manners,  and  the  fascinating  charms  of 
his  address,  won  him  an  universal  friendship  and  ad- 
miration. At  home  he  was  crowded  with  visitors ; 
when  he  rode  through  the  streets  he  was  accompanied 
with  a  splendid  retinue  of  nobility  and  gentry,  all 
proud  to  do  him  honor ;  and  whenever  he  entered  the 
Parliament  marked  respect  and  homage  were  paid  to 
him  there.  But  there  happened  an  incident  that  put 
this  friendship  to  the  test  and  proved  it  light  as  air. 
Upon  a  time  the  Cardinal  was  thought  to  be  on  the 
eve  of  ruin.  In  that  situation  he  went  to  the  Parlia- 
ment, to  clear  himself  of  heavy  charges,  which  his 
enemies  had  raised  against  him.  The  account  of  his 
reception  there  is  thus  given  in  his  memoirs,  written 
with  his  own  hand. 

**  We  went  to  the  Parliament.  The  princes  had  there 
nearly  a  thousand  gentlemen  with  them ;  and  I  may 
say,  hardly  one  from  the  Court  was  missing.  I  was  in 
my  church  habit,  and  went  through  the  great  hall,  with 
my  cap  in  my  hand,  saluting  everybody ;  but  I  met 
with  but  few  that  returned  me  that  civility,  so  strongly 
was  it  believed  that  I  was  an  undone  man." 

Neither  is  this  a  solitary  example,  nor  one  of  rare 
occurrence.     History  abounds  with  examples  that,  in 

6* 


130  ROYAL   ROAD    TO    HAPPINESS;    OR 

the  falling  fortunes  of  the  great  and  noble  of  the  earth 
their  friends  fall  oif  like  leaves  from  the  trees  in  the 
first  frosts  of  autumn.  Sir  Walter  Raleigh,  alike  cele- 
brated as  a  scholar,  a  gentleman,  a  statesman,  a  soldier, 
and  a  man  of  genius,  in  his  last  letter  to  his  wife,  after  his 
most  unjust  condemnation  to  death,  savs  :  "To  what 
friend  to  direct  you  I  know  not,  for  all  mine  have  left 
me  in  the  true  time  of  need." 

In  countries  where  distinction  of  orders  is  established 
by  law,  ambition  runs  in  two  different  channels.  With 
not  a  few  its  main  object  is  rank,  titles,  stars,  garters, 
and  ribbons  ;  these  baubles  being  preferred  greatly  by 
them  to  mere  wealth,  which  is  eagerly  pursued  by 
those,  chiefly,  who  can  have  little  or  no  expectation  of 
attaining  to  the  high  distinction  of  civil,  ecclesiastical, 
or  military  rank.  Whereas,  in  this  free  country  of 
ours,  where  there  is  no  distinction  of  orders,  and  no 
established  rank  of  one  family  above  another,  the  un- 
divided cuiTent  of  ambition  is  toward  wealth.  Avarice 
is  the  general  and  the  ruling  passion.  The  pursuit  of 
gain  is  the  only  secular  pursuit  that  is  much  valued  or 
thought  of;  because  in  the  common  estimation  the 
grand  point  of  honor  is  to  be  rich.  Mammon  is  the 
idol,  to  which  everything  else  is  made  to  bend.  Offices 
are  sought  after  for  their  emoluments  chiefly.  Nay, 
the  august  seats  of  legislation  are  unhesitatingly  de- 
serted for  public  employments,  barren  of  honor,  but  of 
greater  profit.  Men  are  appraised,  and  rated  high  or 
low,  according  to  the  magnitude  of  their  property. 
The  common  question,  what  is  he  worth  ?  is  answered 
only  in  one  way.  If  his  estate  be  small  he  is  worth 
little ;  if  he  have  no  estate  left  he  is  worth  nothing.  It 
is  but  of  small  account,  though  he  have  an  ample  fund 
of  moral  and  intellectual  worth  ;  the  worth  that  is  most 
eagerly  sought  after,  most  highly  prized,  and  most  gen- 
erally esteemed,  is  pecuniary  worth. 

In  the  scramble  of  such  multitudes  after  riches,  very 
many  must  needs  be  unsuccessful ;  for  in  no  country 


THE    PICTURE    PREACHER.  13l 

whatever  can  more  than  a  comparative  few  arrive  at 
wealth.  By  far  the  greater  part  of  the  candidates, 
falling"  short  of  their  expectations,  endure  the  pangs  of 
disappointment,  and  pine  under  the  corrodings  of  envy. 
With  some  avarice  defeats  its  own  aim.  Their  greedi- 
ness of  gain,  if  it  impels  them  not  to  deeds  of  fraud  or 
violence,  which  brings  them  to  shame  and  ruin,  yet 
spurs  them  on  to  engage  in  rash  and  ruinous  advent- 
ures. The  estates  of  others,  as  Franklin's  Poor  Rich- 
ard said,  are  spent  in  the  getting.  Fondly  anticipating 
a  fortune,  they  dash  away  as  if  they  really  had  it  in 
hand.  Others  again  counterfeit  the  splendor  of  riches, 
that  they  may  put  themselves  and  their  families  in  the 
ranks  of  honor.  But  if  they  have  fallen  from  these 
appearances,  they  had  better,  in  the  eyes  of  the  world 
of  fashion,  have  fallen  from  grace.  Whatever  of  esti- 
mable and  amiable  qualities  they  may  possess,  they 
fare  with  their  former  visitors  and  familiars,  as  the  Car- 
dinal did  with  his  at  the  time  he  was  thought  ^'  an  un- 
done man." 

Industry,  frugality,  and  thrift  are  republican  virtues. 
But  a  scrambling  for  money  as  the  chief  good  is  a 
bad  omen.  It  produces  meanness  of  sentiment  and 
sordidness  of  disposition.  A  free  people  whose  passions 
are  set  altogether  on  the  pursuit  of  gain,  can  hardly 
remain  free  very  long;  because  the  necessary  conse- 
quence of  such  a  spirit  of  avarice  is  fraud  in  private 
life. 

An  able  author,  while  treating  incidentally  of  the 
fall  of  the  Roman  republic,  remarks:  ^^  The  course 
that  a  free  nation  runs  is  from  virtuous  industry  to 
wealth;  from  wealth  to  luxury;  from  luxury  to  an 
impatience  of  discipline  and  corruption  of  morals ;  till 
by  a  total  degeneracy  and  loss  of  virtue,  being  grown 
ripe  for  destruction,  it  falls  at  last  a  prey  to  some  hardy 
oppressor,  and,  with  the  loss  of  liberty,  loses  every- 
thing else  that  is  valuable.  Citizens  of  this  proud  re- 
public of  ours  may  well  be  warned  by  these  words. 


132        ROYAL  ROAD  TO  HAPPINESS;  OR 

GENERAL  DIFFUSION  OF  KNOWLEDGE. 

Part  I. 

What  has  beeo  commonly  termed  the  Republic  of 
Letters,  till  a  late  period  had  been  no  other  than  a 
monopolizing  and  an  overbearing  aristocracy.  The 
precious  treasure  was  in  the  possession  of  only  a  few, 
who,  with  miserly  feeling,  locked  it  up  from  the  mass 
of  the  people,  communicating  of  it  merely  to  one 
another,  and  to  their  select  pupils. 

"Knowledge  that  is  hid,  and  treasure  that  is  locked 
up,  what  profit  is  in  them  both?"  This  question  of 
the  ancient  sage  that  penned  the  book  of  Ecclesiastes 
carries  its  own  answer  along  with  it. 

Of  very  little  profit  indeed  to  the  world  were  those 
philosophers  of  antiquity,  whose  philosophy  was  either 
wrapped  up  in  mystery  or  withheld  from  all  but  the 
initiated  few.  For  as  gold  is  of  no  service  while  it 
remains  hoarded,  and  is  made  serviceable  only  when 
put  in  circulation,  so,  also,  intellectual  treasure  can 
benefit  mankind  only  in  so  far  as  it  is  generally  diffused. 

The  art  of  printing  produced  an  astonishing  change 
in  this  important  respect :  Ere  its  discovery  the  whole 
rational  world  consisted  of  only  two  classes,  namely : 
learned  scholars  and  an  illiterate  vulgar,  between  which 
there  was  very  little  fellowship,  or  of  anything  in  com- 
mon. Whereas,  printing  by  multiplying  copies  with 
so  much  ease,  and  furnishing  books  in  such  plenty  and 
cheapness,  soon  began  to  break  away  that  "middle 
wall  of  partition."  Yet  it  was  not  till  a  considerably 
late  period  that  the  tree  of  knowledge  was  brought 
fairly  within  the  reach  of  the  multitude. 

From  the  beginning  of  the  last  century,  and  thence 
up  to  the  present  day,  literature  and  science  have 
advanced  chiefly  by  diffusion. 

In  the  former  ages  there  were  giants  in  the  literary 
department ;  men  with  iron  constitutions  of  body  and 
mind,  who,  by  indefatigable  industry  and  patience  of 


THE    PICTURE    PREACHER.  133 

toil,  treasured  up  in  their  minds  and  memories  such  a 
prodigious  abundance  of  learning  as  would  now  seem 
incredible. 

This  race  of  Anakim  is  well  nigh  extinct,  and  of 
learning  there  are  no  living  prodigies  comparable  to 
those  of  earlier  time.  Nevertheless,  knowledge  has 
rapidly  progressed  by  the  general  spread  of  it.  It 
being  no  longer  confined  to  scholars  by  profession, 
or  inherited  exclusively  by  the  lordly  sex,  there  are 
now  multitudes  of  both  sexes,  very  many  readers  who, 
witliout  any  pretension  to  deep  scholarship,  have  ar- 
rived to  respectable  degrees  of  information.  The  truth 
of  it  is,  among  those  especially  who  speak  the  English 
tongue,  there  has  risen  up  a  middle  class,  aptly  denomi- 
nated the  Well  Informed, 

And  who  are  tliese  f  These  are  persons  who,  though 
not  to  be  ranked  with  men  of  deep  scholastic  lore  nor 
by  any  means  affecting  such  distinction,  are,  notwith- 
standing, possessed  of  a  fund  of  useful  knowledge, 
whether  for  conversation  or  for  the  various  practical 
purposes  of  life.  They  are  often  found,  in  short,  to 
have  a  great  deal  more  of  general  practical  knowledge 
than  commonly  falls  to  the  lot  of  men  of  profound 
science  or  literature.  For  one  who  devotes  himself  to 
science  alone,  however  deeply  intelligent  in  that  single 
respect,  must  needs  be  ignorant  as  to  most  other  things. 

But  the  class  of  the  well  informed  requires  a  more 
particular  description.  By  no  means  does  it  include 
all  readers,  and  much  less  all  that  can  read. 

Of  those  who  can  read,  the  greater  pail  make  very 
little  use  of  this  inestimable  advantage,  and  are  very 
little  the  wiser  for  it.  Again,  of  those  who  do  read 
a  large  proportion  choose  rather  to  be  diverted  or 
amused  than  instructed.  They  are  diverted,  they  are 
amused;  but  enlightened  or  informed  in  any  respecta- 
ble measure  they  are  not.  There  are  great  readers, 
both  male  and  female,  w^ho  in  no  wise  are  well  informed. 
Either  their  reading   is   chaffy  and   uninstructive,  or 


134         ROYAL  ROAD  TO  HAPPINESS;  OR 

they  neglect  to  join  with  it  the  close  exercise  of  their 
intellectual  faculties ;  so  that  their  judgments  are  not 
strengthened  nor  their  understandings  enlarged,  though 
an  abundance  of  truths  and  facts  are  confusedly  heaped 
together  in  their  memories. 

To  attain  the  character  of  the  well  informed,  one 
must  read  with  prudent  selection  as  to  books  ;  with  an 
attentive  exercise  of  one's  own  reason  and  judgment ; 
with  close  application  of  thought ;  and  one  must  im- 
prove one's  own  mind,  not  by  reading  only,  but  also 
by  a  living  intercourse  with  intelligent  society.  For 
it  is  not  in  abstraction  from  the  world,  but  in  the  bosom 
of  society — of  well-regulated  and  well-informed  so- 
ciety— that  the  mind  enjoys  the  best  opportunities  for 
obtaining  expansion  and  vigor.  Here  alone  it  experi- 
ences a  genial  warmth  and  powerful  stimulations  to 
laudable  exertions.  Here  alone  is  it,  also,  that  the 
fallacies  and  errors  of  its  own  crude  conceptions  are 
corrected  by  means  of  their  frequent  contact,  compari- 
son and  collijjion  with  the  conceptions  of  kindred 
minds. 

The  road  is  open.  The  means  of  information  are  so 
ample  and  so  easy  of  access  that  the  reading  youths 
of  the  present  day  seem  to  have  it  fairly  in  their  power 
to  become  well-informed  men  and  women.  Two  hours 
in  the  twenty-four  employed  in  well-directed  intel- 
lectual industry,  might  suffice  in  no  very  long  course 
of  years  for  gathering  a  respectable  treasure  of  valuable 
knowledge.  A  person  who  should  walk  only  one 
hour,  or  three  miles  and  a  half  every  day,  would,  in 
the  coiu-se  of  twenty  years,  have  traveled  as  many  steps 
as  would  reach  around  the  globe. 

Part  II. 

Tlie  circulation  of  books  at  the  present  time  is  im- 
mense. By  means  of  colporters  and  itinerant  venders 
of  books,  vast  numbers  are  circulated,  and  their  influ- 
ence is  great.     The  man  w^ho  goes  into  a  new  settle- 


THE    PICTURE    PREACHER.  135 

ment,  or  any  other  place,  and  circulates  books  of  a 
right  character,  is  a  public  benefactor.  By  their  teach- 
ing and  influence,  the  inmates  of  many  a  cottage  in 
the  wilderness  have  been  inspired  with  virtuous  and 
ennobling  principles.  Many  a  young  man  who  has 
filled  important  stations  with  honor  to  himself  and 
country,  received  the  first  impetus  from  some  volume 
which  foimd  its  way  to  his  father's  house  through  an 
itinerant. 

The  regular  bookseller  is  the  last  man  who  emi- 
grates. More  than  half  the  counties  in  the  United 
States  are  to-day  without  a  single  book  store ;  and  of 
the  fifty  millions  of  our  people,  probably  forty  millions 
never  entered  a  book  store  more  than  thrice  in  their 
lives.  Hence  it  is  mainly  through  itinerants  that  the 
masses  will  procure  books. 

By  the  teachings  of  a  good  book,  and  by  the  exam- 
ples they  exhibit,  the  young  are  allured  to  virtue  and 
warned  of  the  dangers  that  beset  a  path  of  vice.  The 
youth  is  stimulated  to  noble  actions.  He  converses 
with  wise  men  of  every  age.  He  is  raised  from 
groveling  and  beastly  pursuits,  and  aspires  to  the  true, 
dignity  of  his  nature. 

The  father  who  has  a  due  regard  to  the  happiness 
and  respectability  of  his  children,  will  be  quite  cautious 
about  the  company  they  keep.  Books  are  companions. 
If  these  are  immoral,  or  of  a  frivolous  tendency,  he  may 
expect  his  children  will  be  injured  and  corrupted.  But 
if  they  are  of  the  right  kind,  he  may,  in  all  ordinary 
cases,  be  assured  that  the  minds  of  his  children  will  be 
elevated  and  benefited.  Viewed  in  this  light,  good 
books  are  worth  more  than  their  weight  in  gold. 

The  value  of  knowledge  is  seen  in  the  present  state 
of  the  world.  Where  do  we  see  the  most  public  happi- 
ness and  virtue?  Where  do  we  see  human  rights 
respected  and  everything  that  adorns  humanity  most 
prevalent  ?  It  is  not  in  those  places  where  avaricious 
parents  starve  and  belittle  the  minds  of  their  children' 


136        ROYAL  ROAD  TO  HAPPINESS;  OR 

by  withliolding'  the  means  of  education,  but  in  those 
communities  where  books  are  common  and  intelligence 
widely  diffused. 

On  the  other  hand,  where  does  vice,  squalid  misery 
and  poverty  most  prevail?  In  those  nations  where 
ignorance  of  letters  is  common;  where  despots  can  rule 
over  a  people  too  ignorant  to  know  or  maintain  their 
rights,  and  where  books  or  printed  sheets  are  rarely 
seen. 

In  the  family,  also,  a  great  difference  is  often  seen, 
illustrating  the  superiority  of  knowledge  over  igno- 
rance. They  look  at  the  starry  heavens  and  feel  an 
elevation  of  mind  in  contemplating  the  stupendous 
works  of  the  Deity;  they  turn  to  his  works  beneath, 
and  see  his  wisdom  and  beneficence  exhibited.  By  the 
aid  of  the  printed  page,  they  hold  intimate  communion 
with  the  noblest  of  the  human  race. 

The  members  of  an  ignorant  family  may  indeed  look 
upward  and  view  the  shining  stars,  but  it  is  with  a 
*^ brute  unconscious  gaze.''  They  look  around  them, 
but  they  know  nothing  of  the  wisdom  or  laws  which 
govern  the  vast  creation  of  God.  They  have  no  means 
or  disposition  to  converse  with  the  wise  and  good,  but 
prefer  low  and  groveling  pursuits  to  those  which  are 
noble  and  elevating. 


THE  FORCE   OF  TRUTH. 

Lying  and  deceit  are  considered  among  the  lowest 
and  meanest  of  vices.  They  are  so  infamous  that  the 
greatest  liars  cannot  bear  it  in  other  persons.  A  liar  is 
subject  to  two  misfortunes — neither  to  believe,  nor  to 
be  believed ;  and  before  he  establishes  one  lie  he  must 
tell  many.  To  raise  a  confidence  in  order  to  betray  it 
is  the  most  consummate  act  of  villainy  that  can  be  Y)er- 
petrated.  When  a  man  forfeits  his  reputation  he  is  set 
fast,  and  nothing  will  then  serve  his  turn,  neither  truth 
nor  falsehood. 


THE  PICTURE   PKEACHEK. 


137 


t  atrarch  the  Poet  before  the  CardinaL 
TRUTH,  DECEIT  AND  LYING. 


Putting  away  lying ^  speak  every  man  truth  with  his  neighbor. 

Eph.  iv.  25. Thou  desirest  truth  in  the  inward  parts.     Psa.  li. 

6. We  spake  all  things  to  you  in  truth.     II.  Cor.  vii.  14. 

Deceit  is  in  the  heart  of  them  that  imagine  evil.     Pro  v.  xii.  20. 

Hardened  through  the  deceitfulness  of  sin,    Heb.  iii.  1 3. Lying 

lips  are  an  abomination  to  the  Lord.      Prov.    xii.    22. The 

wicked  .   .   .   they  go  astray  .    .  .   speaking  lies.     Psa.  Iviii.  3. 

All   liars  shall  have  their  part  in   the   lake   that  humeth 

with  fire  and  brimstone.    Rev.  xxi.  8. 


138        KOYAL  BO  AD  TO  HAPPINESS;  OR 

Lying  IS  the  vice  of  slaves.  It  is  the  vice  that 
chiefly  abounds  among*  nations  in  political  slavery  and 
with  that  low  and  wretched  class  of  our  fellow-beings 
who  are  in  personal  bondage.  Slavish  fear  promj^ts  them 
to  prevaricate  and  lie,  as  it  were,  in  self-defence.  Nor 
is  it  the  less  mean. 

Assuredly,  with  people  possessing  freedom  and  en- 
joying the  light  of  Christianity,  a  strict  regard  for 
truth  should  be  considered  as  a  cardinal  point  in  char- 
acter, and  every  species  of  willful  falsehood  should  be 
held  in  utmost  disgrace — ^not  merely  in  disgrace  for  its 
meanness,  but  in  abhorrence  for  its  moral  turpitude. 

Speaking  the  truth  is  one  of  the  easiest  things  in  the 
world,  for  it  is  merely  the  expression  of  one^s  own  per- 
ceptions, or  of  what  lies  clearly  in  his  own  memory. 
The  veriest  child,  that  has  attained  the  use  of  the 
organs  of  speech,  is  capable  of  this.  Whereas,  to 
speak  falsehood  requires  effort  and  art.  Falsehood  is 
fiction,  and  invention,  and  contrivance,  so  to  frame 
and  fashion  it  as  to  make  it  bear  the  semblance  of 
truth — as  he  that  dances  upon  the  rope  is  not  a  moment 
at  his  ease,  but  must  constantly  employ  effort  to  keep 
his  balance — even  so  it  fares  with  a  liar.  His  mind  is 
ever  on  the  alert  to  escape  detection.  And  after  all, 
the  very  expedients  he  uses  for  this  end  often  produce 
the  consequences  which  he  wishes  to  avoid.  He  pro- 
ceeds with  cunning  art,  to  cover  one  lie  with  another, 
till  the  cover  being  too  narrow,  or  too  thin,  the  whole 
series  is  clearly  seen  through. 

Confidence  is  the  cement,  or  rather  the  main  pillar 
of  society.  Without  it  friendship  is  but  a  name,  and 
social  intercourse  a  sort  of  war  in  disguise.  And  as 
falseness  of  speech,  in  any  shape  or  degree  whatever, 
has  a  tendency  to  destroy  or  weaken  social  confidence, 
so  it  tends,  of  course,  to  unhinge  society. 

From  this,  as  well  as  from  the  more  solemn  and 
more  awful  view  of  the  subject,  it  clearly  follows  that 
nothing  is  of  greater  necessity  in  the  moral  education 


THE    PICTURE    PREACHER.  139 

of  children,   than   to   teach   them  a  strict  regard   to 
'truth. 

Among"  wiser  heathen  nations  of  antiquity,  there 
have  arisen  individuals  who  have  had  a  remarkable 
regard  for  the  speaking  of  truth.  Pythagoras,  the  phi- 
losopher, said,  ^^  Truth  is  so  great  a  peiiection  that  if 
God  would  render  himself  visible  to  man,  he  would 
choose  light  for  his  body,  and  truth  for  his  soul."  It 
is  said  of  Augustus  Caesar  that  after  a  long  inquiry 
into  all  parts  of  his  empire,  he  found  but  one  man 
accounted  to  have  never  told  a  lie,  for  which  cause  he 
was  deemed  worthy  to  be  the  chief  sacrificer  in  the 
Temple  of  Truth. 

Zenocrates,  an  Athenian  philosopher,  lived  three 
hundred  years  before  Christ,  and  was  educated  in  the 
school  of  Plato.  The  people  of  Athens  entertained  so 
high  an  opinion  of  him,  as  a  man  of  truth  and  probity, 
that  one  day  when  he  approached  the  altar  to  confirm 
by  an  oath  that  which  he  asserted,  the  judges  unani- 
mously declared  his  word  to  be  sufficient  evidence.  So 
peculiar  a  mark  of  confidence  in  a  man  is  all  the  more 
honorable  because  so  rare. 

Petrarch,  a  celebrated  Italian  poet  of  the  fourteenth 
century,  recommended  himself  to  the  confidence  and 
afi*ection  of  Cardinal  Colonna,  in  whose  family  he  re- 
sided, by  his  condor  and  strict  regard  for  truth.  A 
violent  quarrel  occurred  in  the  house  of  this  nobleman 
which  was  carried  so  far  that  recourse  was  had  to  arms. 
The  Cardinal  wished  to  know  the  foundation  of  this 
affair,  and,  that  he  might  be  able  to  decide  with  jus- 
tice, he  assembled  all  the  people  and  obliged  them  by  a 
most  solemn  oath  on  the  gospels,  to  declare  the  whole 
truth.  Everyone,  without  exception,  submitted  to  this 
determination;  even  the  Bishop  of  Luna,  brother  of 
the  Cardinal,  was  not  excused.  Petrarch,  in  his  tuni, 
presented  himself  to  take  the  oath;  the  Cardinal 
closed  the  book,  and  said:  ^'As  to  you,  Petrarch,  your 
word  is  sufficient." 


140  BOYAL   ROAD   TO   HAPPINESS;   OR 

PROMISE-BEEAKING. 

In  the  polite  world  forms  of  speech  are  used,  which 
are  not  meant  to  be  understood  according  to  their  ob- 
vious meaning.  For  instance,  when  one  man  says  or 
writes  to  another,  ^^  Your  humble  servant,"  or  ^*  Your 
most  obedient,"  he  intends  not  to  bind  himself  to  clean 
the  boots  of  the  one  he  thus  addresses,  or  to  do  him 
any  sort  of  menial  service  ]  and  much  less  does  he  mean 
that  he  is  ready  and  willing  to  yield  him  obedience  in 
all  cases  whatsoever.  It  is  hardly  worth  while,  how- 
ever, to  enlarge  upon  this  topic,  as  the  aforesaid  forms 
of  speech  have  almost  become  obsolete,  at  least  in  these 
United  States.  Pledges  of  hiunble  service,  and  passive 
obedience,  mutually  given  in  the  interchange  of  civili- 
ties, are  now  as  rare  in  this  country  as  they  once  were 
common.  This  is  no  matter  of  regret,  for  it  is  not  a 
flower  that  has  been  plucked  up,  but  a  weed. 

But  there  is  one  form  of  words  which  seems  to  have 
come  into  general  abuse  over  this  whole  country ;  and 
the  more  is  the  pity,  as  these  last  are  words  of  grave 
import,  as  well  as  of  obvious  sense  :  I  mean  the  phrase 
so  abundantly  used — I  promise  to  pay.  In  other  times 
these  words  were  passed  with  timid  caution,  and  when 
passed  they  were  held  sacred ;  but  they  are  now  com- 
ing to  be  words  of  mere  form,  meaning  nothing ;  very 
like  the  old  complimentary  phrases,  *^  Your  humble 
servant,"  ^^  Your  most  obedient." 

Not  but  that  the  promise  always  interprets  the  text 
as  of  old,  according  to  its  literal  or  expressed  meaning. 
But  the  promiser  perverts  the  text  that  he  may  accom- 
date  it  to  his  own  heterodox  notions ;  or  rather,  after 
the  doctrine  of  mental  reservation,  he  interpolates  the 
word  ^'  never,"  making  it  runs  thus  :  I  promise  (never) 
to  pay. 

It  would  be  endless  to  recount  all  the  mischiefs  that 
are  flowing  in  upon  society  from  this  prevailing  heresy; 
nor  is  it  needful,  since  most  of  them  are  too  obvious  to 


THE    PICTURE    PREACHER.  141 

escape  notice.  Wherefore  not  to  mention  the  sore  dis- 
appointments, the  indignant  heart-burnings,  daily  aris- 
ing in  ten  thousand  instances  from  this  single  source ; 
nor  yet  to  mention  its  destructive  influence  upon  all 
confidence  between  man  and  man ;  passing  over  these 
topics,  and  others  akin  to  them,  I  shall  consider  the 
matter  merely  as  it  aflects  the  interests  of  the  delin- 
quent party. 

Be  it  supposed  that  he  is  a  man  possessed  of  several 
estimable  qualities ;  that  he  has  a  large  stock  of  what 
is  called  good  nature ;  that  he  is  obliging  and  compas- 
sionate ;  that,  in  the  main,  he  is  a  moral  man ;  and, 
finally,  that  there  is  no  apparent  blemish  in  his  charac- 
ter, save  this  alone.  Give  the  delinquent  all  these  good 
qualities,  and  yet,  ^^the  dead  fly  in  the  precious  oint- 
ment "  spoils  the  whole  compound. 

There  is  a  smack  of  immorality  in  every  instance  of 
voluntary  word-breaking ;  and  in  this  as  in  every  other 
vice,  one  step  naturally  leads  to  another.  The  good- 
natured  man,  who  has  neglected  to  fulfill  his  promise, 
is  fain  to  cast  about  him  for  an  excuse,  and  if  he  can- 
not find  one,  he  makes  one. 

This  can  hardly  be  done  for  the  first  or  second  time 
without  a  considerable  struggle  with  moral  principle. 
But  it  soon  becomes  feasible,  and  as  natural  almost  as 
to  breathe.  In  the  process  of  this  ill  habit  he  quite 
loses  his  moral  feelings  as  respects  strict  veracity  ;  and 
almost  every  day  he  lives  he  deals  in  fiction  without 
any  sort  of  compunction. 

Neither  is  this  all ;  he  is  the  occasion  of  falsehood  to 
others.  He  steps  over  to  one  of  his  neighbors  to  bor- 
row ;  his  neighbor  respects  him  for  his  sundry  good 
qualities,  but  knows  well  the  particular  infirmity  of  his 
character.  He  is  loth  to  lose  his  friend,  and  quite  as 
loth  to  hazard  his  money.  What  does  he  do  ?  He 
also  proceeds  to  frame  fictitious  excuses.  **  I  am  very 
sorry,  sir,  that  it  is  not  in  my  power  to  oblige  you. 
There  is  no  man  living  that  I  should  be  more  ready  to 


142        ROYAL  ROAD  TO  HAPPINESS;  OR 

serve ;  but — ^but,"  and  then  out  comes  the  excuse,  lie 
and  all. 

The  man  who  makes  it  his  general  practice  to  shuffle 
off  as  much  as  possible  the  payment  of  his  honest 
debts,  not  only  forfeits  all  claims  upon  the  confidence 
of  society,  but  loses  a  main  portion  of  self-respect,  with- 
out which  he  is  but  ill-provided  for  life's  work  and  for 
contact  and  co-operation  with  men.* 

He  often  meets  with  fellow  beings,  with  whom  he 
cannot  so  much  as  interchange  the  customary  saluta- 
tion without  enduring  the  feeling  of  self-abasement, 
and  in  conversing  with  whom  he  is  compelled,  as  it 
were,  to  have  recourse  to  prevarication  and  quibble.  In 
such  a  frame  of  mind,  no  man  can  do  his  best  work. 

And  what  does  he  gain  by  it  in  his  secular  affairs  ? 
Nothing  at  all.  He  is  a  loser  even  there.  If  he  fre- 
quently suffers  the  compulsory  process  of  law  he  is  a 
ruined  man.  Or  if  he  procrastinate  till  he  has  quite 
exhausted  the  patience  of  his  creditors,  and  then  pays, 
seemingly  rather  to  avoid  the  expense  of  law  than 
from  an  honest  principle,  still  he  loses  that  credit  which, 
to  his  secular  affairs,  might  be  an  incalculable  benefit ; 
and  in  seasons  of  pressing  emergency,  if  he  have  not 
sufficient  resources  in  himself,  he  can  find  them  no- 
where. 

A  strict  regard  to  one's  word  or  promise  is  one  of  the 
first  of  social  virVaes.  Wherefore,  young  men  who 
are  entering,  or  have  just  entered  the  threshold  of 
business,  would  do  well  to  keep  in  memory  the  follow- 
ing maxims :  Be  as  careful  of  taking  as  of  giving  credit. 
Never  run  in  debt  beyond  what  you  have  a  moral  cer- 
tainty, or,  at  least,  a  reasonable  prospect  of  being  able 
to  pay  in  season.  Never  defer  payment  when  it  is 
needed,  and  you  have  the  power  to  make  it.  If  you 
have  money  in  your  pocket,  and  there  is  a  debt  you 
owe  come  due,  always  to  consider  that  money  your 
creditor's,  and  not  j^our  own.  If  one  must  owe,  let  it 
be  good  will ;  and  then  pay  as  you  go. 


THE    PICTUEH    PREACHER.  143 


SELF-IGNORANCE    AND    SELF-ADULATION. 


-"  The  nature  of  man  is  such 


To  see  and  judge  of  the  affairs  of  others, 
Much  better  than  their  own." 

The  above  cited  sentiment  has  not  abated  of  its  force 
nor  is  it  less  applicable  to  human  natm-e  at  the  instant, 
though  two  thousand  years  have  passed  away  since  it 
came  from  the  pen  of  Terence^  the  poet  of  Carthage. 

In  one  respect,  very  few,  if  any,  are  altogether  free 
from  the  imputation  of  making  use  of  deception.  It  is 
the  use  of  the  strange  properties  of  our  fallen  nature, 
that  we  deceive  ourselves  even  more  easily  than  we  are 
deceived  by  others,  and  that  while  we  are  mightily 
offended  when  others  deceive  us,   we   are  especially 

? leased  with  the  deception  we  palm  upon  ourselves. 
Ve  love  flattery,  because  it  enables  us  to  flatter  our- 
selves, and  we  dislike  honest  reproof  or  censure, 
because  it  impels  us  to  fix  our  eyes  upon  our  own 
faults  or  frailties.  We  judge  ourselves  and  our 
neighbors  by  different  rules,  which  always  gives  the 
advantage  to  our  own  side. 

Imperfect  we  readily  confess  ourselves  to  be,  but  if 
one  happen  to  impute  to  us  any  particular  imperfec- 
tion, we  deem  ourselves  insulted,  and  instantly  take 
fire.  Mortal  we  know  we  are,  yet  \hQ  most  of  us  seem 
to  live  as  though  we  scarcely  expected  either  death  or 
sickness,  at  least  for  the  present,  and  we  secretly,  per- 
haps, think  that  the  fatal  arrow  of  death  is  more  likely 
to  hit  almost  any  body  else  than  ourselves.  The  young 
constantly  expect  to  live  to  be  old,  and  the  old,  who 
have  seen  one  generation  pass  away,  are  not  without 
hope  that  they  shall  survive  the  greater  part  of  another. 
The  mass  of  mankind  are,  in  short,  perpetually  delud- 
ing themselves,  one  way  or  another  ;  nor  are  the  wisest 
and  the  best  quite  free  in  all  respects  from  self-delu- 
sion. Perhaps  if  life  Avere  not  in  any  wise  gilded  by 
the  enchanting  power  of  imagination,  there  would  be 


144  '  ROYAL    ROAD    TO    HAPPINESS;    OR 

little  relish  for  most  of  those  things  which  God  hath 
given  us  under  the  sun. 

A  very  ancient  writer  has  told  us  of  a  poor  laborer 
who,  fancying  himself  a  king,  repaired  daily  to  a 
hillock,  where,  as  on  his  throne,  he  sat  in  state,  and 
exercised  regal  authority  over  the  imaginary  subjects 
that  surrounded  him,  who,  at  length  being  cured  of  that 
pleasing  error  of  the  imagination,  complained  hard  of 
his  doctors  that  they  had  physicked  him  back  again  to 
poverty.  Nor  is  he  a  solitary  instance.  The  most  of 
mankind  in  some  period  of  their  lives,  have  perhaps 
indulged  vagaries  of  the  imagination  quite  as  ground- 
less, if  not  quite  so  extravagant,  and  which,  if  they 
led  them  not  astray  from  either  duty  or  prudence,  did 
them  benefit,  by  sweetening  their  toils,  and  smoothing 
the  path  of  life.  The  illusion  of  hope,  which  no 
sooner  is  disappointed  than  it  springs  anew  in  the 
human  breast,  constitute  a  large  portion  of  the  earthly 
happiness  of  mankind,  and  is  the  main  spring  of  their 
exertions  in  worldly  affairs. 

"Dream  after  dream  ensues — 
And  still  they  dream  that  they  shall  still  succeed, 
And  still  are  disappointed." 

However,  speaking  of  worldly  good  only,  their  imag- 
inings afford  them  more  satisfaction  than  they  ever  find 
in  realities.  Bat  when  the  illusion  relates  to  the  moral 
qualities  of  our  hearts,  flattering  us  that  our  vices  are 
virtues,  or  at  least,  that  they  are  less  culpable  for  being 
ours,  it  is  then  that  our  imaginings  are  so  pregnant  with 
infimte  mischief 

Of  all  human  knowledge,  self-knowledge  is  accounted 
the  most  difficult  of  attainment ;  and  why  ?  Assur- 
edly it  is  not  so  difficult  of  itself.  We  are  conscious 
not  only  of  our  own  actions,  but  also  of  the  views  and 
motives  by  which  we  are  actuated.  The  thoughts  and 
affections  of  our  hearts  are  all  open  to  our  inspection. 
Why,  then,  is  it  so  hard  for  one  to  so  far  know  himself 
as  to  be  able  to  pencil  his  own  true  pictui-e  with  con- 


THE    PICTURE    PREACHER.  145 

siderable  exactness  ?  The  main  difficulty  arises  from 
the  blinding  and  deluding  bias  that  we  have  toward 
ourselves.  It  is  by  reason  of  this  kind  of  sophistry, 
though  ive  discern  the  mote  in  tlie  eye  of  another,  wo 
perceive  not  the  beam  in  our  own  ;  that,  though  we  are 
clear-sighted  enough  with  respect  to  the  faults  of  our 
neighbor*,  we  are  as  blind  as  moles  to  as  great  and 
even  greater  faults  in  ourselves.  And  it  is  owing  to 
this  that  we  magnify  into  shining  virtues,  such  deeds 
of  our  own  doing  as  we  should  think  lightly  of  if  done 
by  others. 

The  sophistry  with  which  we  cheat  ourselves  runs 
into  our  social  intercourse  and  dealings.  In  estimat- 
ing the  character  of  those  about  us,  we  are  apt  to  judge 
of  them  according  to  the  particular  bearing  they  have 
to  our  own  dear  selves.  If  they  do  not  appear  to  have 
that  respect  for  us  to  which  we  think  ourselves  entitled, 
we  are  apt  to  judge  them  with  all  the  severity  which 
appearances  can  in  any  way  justify.  In  matters  of 
deal,  it  is  a  hard  thing  to  determine  what  is  right  in 
one's  own  cause ;  the  opposite  positions  of  mine  and 
thine  not  unfrequently  sway  men  of  honest  intentions 
and  pervert  right  judgment. 

In  all  the  intercourse  and  business  of  life,  the  appli- 
cation of  the  golden  rule  in  point  of  morals,  is  of  the 
utmost  importance ;  it  is  only  by  changing  places, 
ideally^  with  those  with  whom  we  have  concerns,  or  deal 
with,  that  we  can  know  exactly  how  to  do  them  jus- 
tice. The  application  of  this  divine  rule  seems  to  be 
alike  necessary  in  the  management  of  conflicting  opin- 
ions. The  free  exercise  of  private  judgment  is  what 
every  man  claims  for  himself,  and  yet  almost  every 
man  grudges  it  to  others.  And  hence  it  is,  that  dis- 
putes of  opinion  are  so  often  acrimonius.  Whereas,  if 
we  were  no  less  willing  that  others  should  enjoy  the 
free  exercise  of  private  judgment  than  to  enjoy  it  our- 
selves, our  disputes  would  be  conducted  with  fairness 
and  good  temper. 


146  ROYAL    ROAD    TO    HAPPINESS;    OR 

FOOLISH  DOMESTIC  QUAREELS. 

In  the  Apocrypha,  Chap.  ii.  of  the  book  of  Tobit, 
there  is  an  account  given  of  Tobit  and  his  wife  Anna, 
who  were  among  the  Jewish  captives  taken  by  the 
Assyrians  and  carried  to  Nineveh.  It  appears  that 
Anna,  while  in  that  place,  "  took  women's  work  to  do  " 
for  some  of  the  inhabitants.  When  she  had  com])leted 
the  work  she  sent  it  home  to  the  owners,  who  paid  her 
price  for  it,  and  in  addition  gave  her  a  kid.  When 
Tobit  returned  home  from  his  place  of  business,  he 
heard  the  bleating  of  the  kid,  and  was  very  much  dis- 
concerted by  it.  He  very  uncourteoiisly  accused  her 
of  stealing  it,  while  she  in  return  broadly  hinted  that, 
notwithstanding  his  pretensions,  he  was  no  better  than 
he  should  be.  ^^  Behold,  thou  and  all  thy  works  are 
known." 

^'  The  tongue  can  no  man  tame."  And  besides  it  is 
agreeable  to  the  laws  of  pneumatics  that  the  lightest 
bodies  should  rise  the  highest,  especially  in  a  tempest. 
Wherefore,  in  spite  of  the  degrading  subjection  in 
which  the  wife  was  held  under  the  husband  in  that  age 
and  country,  Anna  had  the  last  word ;  and  a  cutting 
word  it  was. 

Poor  Tobit,  it  seems,  had  more  than  his  match,  for 
the  retort  that  his  wife  made  upon  him  was  so  keenly 
sarcastic  and  touched  him  so  deeply  that  he  fell  a  weep- 
ing. Indeed,  he  was  not  much  to  be  pitied,  as  he  was 
manifestly  the  aggressor.  Had  he  patiently  inquired 
into  the  matter,  instead  of  blurting  out  his  provoking 
suspicions,  the  bitter  fray  between  them  had  never 
been.  This  apocryphal  text,  which,  perad venture,  was 
never  treated  of  so  formally  and  methodically  before, 
embraces  several  points  of  sound  and  wholesome  doc- 
trine. 

1.  The  serenity  of  connubial  life  is  very  apt  to  be 
disturbed  by  sudden  and  unexpected  gusts,  unless 
special  care  be  taken  in  this  particular.     If  both  hus- 


THE    PICTUEE    PREACHER.  147 

band  and  wife  be  of  a  mild  and  even  temper,  there  is 
no  danger ;  or  if  one  be  so  and  the  other  hasty,  the 
danger  is  not  so  great ;  but  if  both  be  inflammable, 
there  is  need  of  the  utmost  watchfulness. 

A  couple  so  tempered  may,  notwithstanding,  b^ 
faithful,  generous,  and  noble-spirited,  and  kind-hearted, 
and  may  live  together  very  lovingly  in  the  main ;  but 
if  they  fail  to  keep  a  sharp  lookout,  now  and  then  a 
gust  arises,  all  of  a  sudden,  and  quite  unexpectedly  to 
themselves,  and  the  house  is  made  to  ring  from  side  to 
side.  Some  one,  in  his  speculations  on  this  subject,  has 
recommended  it,  that  a  hasty  couple  should  accustom 
themselves,  ere  they  fly  into  a  passion  with  one  an- 
other, to  utter  in  their  hearts  thrice  the  three  following 
cooling  words — Bear  and  Forbear, 

2.  The  most  part  of  domestic  feuds,  perhaps  nine  in 
ten,  spring  from  trifles.  *^  Behold  how  great  a  matter  a 
little  fire  kindleth.^'  A  word  unfitly  spoken,  a  sour 
look,  a  neglect,  touches  and  stings  the  mind,  and  some- 
times fires  the  tongue  and  occasions  a  boisterous  dis- 
pute ;  even  though  neither  party  can  accuse  or  blame 
the  other,  in  any  matter  of  considerable  moment.  For 
the  prevention  of  this  kind  of  domestic  evil,  permit  me 
to  off*er  the  following  recipe  :  ^^  The  Jesuits,"  accord- 
ing to  an  Italian  author,  "  with  whom  none  could  vie 
in  the  pleasures  of  civil  life,  were  exceedingly  atten- 
tive to  appear  to  each  otlier  in  the  most  amiable  light. 
The  polite  behavior  of  the  first  day  was  uniformly  pre- 
served by  them,  during  the  many  years  they  continued 
together ;  so  that  the  honeymoon  of  their  consociation, 
if  this  expression  may  be  allowed,  lasted  for  their  lives. 
This  reciprocal  complaisance,  at  first  merely  adopted, 
was  improved  by  habit  in  a  solid,  uninten'upted  and 
happy  friendship."  The  application  is  obvious — Go 
and  do  likewise. 

3.  As  among  neighbors,  so  in  domestic  or  conjugal 
life,  sharp  contentions  arise  from  judging  of  matters 
prematurely,   or  before  they  have  been  duly  investi- 


148        ROYAL  ROAD  TO  HAPPINESS;  OR 

gated  and  weighed.  In  this  respect,  Tobit  was  sadly 
out  of  the  way.  He  should  have  questioned  Anna 
mildly  about  the  bleating  kid,  asking  her  in  a  pleasant 
tone  how  and  whence  it  came  ;  and  if  not  satisfied  with 
her  answers,  he  should  have  searched  elsewhere  for  the 
truth.  But  no.  Such  was  the  flurry  of  his  spirits  that 
he  acted  with  as  much  assurance  and  decision  upon  a 
mere  impression  as  if  he  had  proof  positive.  Neither 
is  this  a  solitary  instance  ;  the  like  has  often  happened 
to  the  great  discomfort  of  social  and  domestic  life.  It 
ought  to  be  deeply  engraved  on  the  mind  of  man  and 
woman  that  *'he  that  answereth  a  matter  before  he 
heareth  it^  it  is  folly  and  shame  unto  him.^' 

4.  In  the  state  of  matrimony,  hardly  anything  is 
more  discomforting  or  more  deadening  to  the  delicate  af- 
fection of  love  than  overmuch  suspiciousness  of  temper. 
Groundless  suspicions,  repeatedly  manifested,  never 
fail  to  cure  the  love  and  excite  the  ire  of  the  suspected 
party.  And  here  again  Tobit  deserves  the  lash  of 
severe  censure.  He  acted  the  part  of  a  suspicious  hus- 
band. And  no  wonder  that  Anna,  an  honest  as  well  as 
industrious  housewife,  no  wonder  that  she  was  stung  to 
the  quick  at  being  suspected  of  so  heinous  an  offense. 
It  was  no  wonder  that  her  spirits  were  aroused,  and 
being  well  gifted  in  that  particular,  that  she  used  her 
tongue  in  the  able  manner  that  she  did. 

One  thing  more  and  I  shall  kave  done.  Let  no  man 
take  occasion  from  this  subject  to  ridicule  or  despise 
marriage.  It  lias  passed  into  a  proverbial  saying,  that 
there  are  but  few  happy  matches,  and  in  one  sense  it  is 
true.  There  are  few,  in  comparison  with  the  whole, 
that  are  very  happy  in  marriage.  But  permit  me  to 
ask — are  there  a  great  many  that  are  very  happy  in  the 
single  condition  ?  Is  the  bachelor  entitled  to  glory  in 
his  choice,  or  to  boast  of  a  superior  degree  of  felicity  ? 
He  who  has  no  one  that  naturally  cares  for  his  person 
—no  one  that  takes  a  lively  interest  in  his  concerns — 
no  one  that  participates  in  his  feelings  of  joy  or  deeply 


THE    PICTURE    PREACHER.  149 

sympathizes  in  his  adversities,  sicknesses  and  sorrows — 
no  tenderly  throbbing  bosom,  on  which  to  rest  his 
weary  head. 

On  the  reverse  of  this  picture  behold  the  married 
man.  Perhaps  his  wife  is  not,  in  some  respects,  quite 
as  he  would  wish.  Perhaps  she  has  turns  of  unpleas- 
ant humor,  and  sometimes  gives  him  pain  by  her  peev- 
ishness or  obstinacy.  Yet  she  is  faithful  to  him  and 
his  interests.  Though,  at  times,  she  herself  assaults 
him  with  her  tongue,  on  no  account  will  she  suffer  any- 
body else  to  do  it.  His  joys  and  his  sorrows  are  hers. 
In  his  outgoings  her  heart  blesses  him  ;  and  after  days 
and  weeks  of  absence  she  affectionately  greets  him  on 
his  return.  His  food,  his  apparel,  the  decencies  of  his 
appearance,  are  objects  of  her  daily  attention. 

His  every  ailment  of  body  meets  her  sympathy  and 
quickens  her  care ;  in  his  heavy  sicknesses,  scarcely 
does  she  give  sleep  to  her  eyes  or  slumber  to  her  eye- 
lids—  , 

"  With  a  soft  and  silent  tread, 
Nimble  she  moves  about  the  bed." 

Anxiously  she  watches  the  symptoms ;  carefully  she 
administers  the  medicines ;  she  responds  to  every  groan, 
and  with  eagerness  catches  at  every  glimmer  of  hope. 
Judge  now  which  of  the  two  is  the  happier  man. 


THE  LARK  AND  HER  YOUNG. 

A  lark  who  had  young  ones  in  a  field  of  grain 
which  was  almost  ripe,  was  in  some  fear  lest  the  reap- 
ers should  come  to  reap  before  her  young  brood  was 
fledged  and  able  to  remove  from  the  place.  Where- 
fore, upon  flying  abroad  to  look  for  food,  she  left  this 
charge  with  them:  That  they  should  take  notice  of 
what  they  heard  talked  of  in  her  absence,  and  tell  her 
of  it  when  she  came  back  again.  When  she  was  gone 
they  heard   the  owner   of  the   com   call  to  his  son: 


150 


EOYAL   KOAD    TO    HAPPINESS;    OK 


I 


Do  your  own  business, 
Depend,  not  on  fHends. 


THE  LARK  AND  HER  YOUNG. 


Tahe  ye  heed  every  one  of  his  neighbor y  and  tricst  ye  not  in 

any  brother.     Jcr.  ix,  4. Trust  ye  itot  in  a  friend,     31icah  vii. 

5. I^ot  slothful  in  business^  fervent  in  spirit,  serving  the  Lord. 

Rom.  xiL  11. Do  your  own  business,  andtoworJc  with  your  own 

hands,  as  we  commanded  you.     I.  Thess.  iv.  lie He  that  tilleth 

his  land  shall  be  satisfied  with  bread,  but  he  that  followeth  vain 

persons  is  void  of  understanding.     Pro  v.  xii.  11. Whatsoever 

thy  handfindeth  to  do,  do  it  with  thy  might.     EccL  ix.  10. 


THE    PICTURE    PREACHER.  151 

*^  Well,"  says  he,  ^^  I  think  this  is  ripe  enough ;  I  would 
have  you  go  early  to-morrow  and  desire  our  friends 
and  neighbors  to  come  and  help  us  to  reap  it."  When 
the  old  lark  came  home,  the  young  ones  fell  a  quiver- 
ing and  chirping  round  her,  and  told  her  what  had 
happened,  begging  her  to  remove  them  as  fast  as  she 
could.  The  mother  bid  them  be  easy,  ^^  for,"  says  she, 
*4f  the  owner  depends  upon  his  friends  and  neighbors,  I 
am  pretty  sure  the  corn  will  not  be  reaped  to-morrow." 

Next  day  she  went  out  again,  upon  the  same  occa- 
sion, and  left  the  same  orders  with  them  as  before,. 
The  owner  came,  and  stayed,  expecting  those  he  had 
sent  to ;  but  the  sun  grew  hot,  and  nothing  was  done, 
for  not  a  soul  came  to  help  him.  Then  says  he,  to  his 
son,  '^  I  perceive  these  friends  of  ours  are  not  to  be 
depended  upon,  so  that  you  must  even  go  to  your 
uncles,  and  cousins,  and  aunts,  and  tell  them  I  desire 
they  would  be  here  betimes  to-morrow  morning  to  help 
us  to  reap."  Well,  this  the  young  ones,  in  great 
fright,  reported  also  to  their  mother.  '^  If  that  be  all," 
says  she,  ''  do  not  be  frightened,  children,  for  kindred 
and  relations  do  not  use  to  be  so  very  forward  to  serve 
one  another ;  but  take  particular  notice  what  you  hear 
said  the  next  time,  and  be  sure  you  let  me  know  it." 

She  went  abroad  the  next  day  as  usual,  and  the  owner 
finding  his  relations  as  slack  as  the  rest  of  his  neigh- 
bors, said  to  his  son,  *^  Hark  ye,  George,  do  you  get  a 
couple  of  good  sickles  ready  against  to-morrow  morn- 
ing, and  we  will  even  reap  the  corn  ourselves."  When 
the  young  ones  told  their  mother  this,  *^  Then,"  says 
she,  *Sve  must  go,  indeed;  for  when  a  man  undertakes 
to  do  his  business  himself,  it  is  not  so  likely  he  will  be 
disappointed."  So  she  removed  her  young  ones  imme- 
diately, and  the  corn  was  reaped  the  next  day  by  the 
good  man  and  his  son. 

Application. — Never  depend  upon  the  assistance  of 
friends  and  relations  in  anything  which  you  are  able  to 
do  yourself,  for  nothing  is  more  fickle  and  uncertain* 


152  ROYAL    ROAD    TO    HAPPINESS;    OR 

The  man  who  relies  upon  another  for  the  execution  of 
any  affair  of  importance,  is  not  only  kept  in  a  wretched 
and  slavish  suspense,  while  he  expects  the  issue  of  the 
matter,  but  generally  meets  with  a  disappointment, 
while  he  who  lays  the  chief  stress  of  his  business  upon 
himself,  and  depends  upon  his  own  industry  and  atten- 
tion for  the  success  of  his  affairs,  is  in  the  fairest  way 
to  attain  his  end,  and  if  at  last  he  should  miscaiTy,  has 
this  to  comfort  him,  that  it  was  not  through  his  own 
negligence  and  a  vain  expectation  of  the  assistance  of 
friends. 

To  stand  by  ourselves,  as  much  as  possible — to  exert 
our  own  strength  and  vigilance  in  the  prosecution  of 
our  affairs — is  God-like,  being  the  result  of  a  most 
noble  and  highly-exalted  reason ;  but  those  who  pro- 
crastinate and  defer  the  business  of  life  by  an  idle  de- 
pendence upon  others,  in  things  which  it  is  in  their  own 
power  to  effect,  sink  down  into  a  kind  of  stupid  and 
abject  slavery,  and  show  themselves  unworthy  of 
talents  with  which  human  nature  is  dignified. 


THE  FOX  IN  THE  WELL. 

A  fox  having  fallen  into  a  well,  made  a  shift,  by 
sticking  his  claws  into  the  sides,  to  keep  his  head  above 
water.  Soon  after,  a  wolf  came  and  peeped  over  the 
brink ;  to  whom  the  fox  applied  himself  very  earnestly 
for  assistance ;  entreating  that  he  would  help  him  to  a 
rope,  or  something  of  that  kind,  which  might  favor  his 
escape. 

The  wolf,  moved  with  compassion  at  his  misfortune, 
could  not  forbear  expressing  his  concern  :  ^'  Ah  !  poor 
Reynard,"  says  he,  *^  I  am  sorry  for  you  with  all  my 
heart ;  how  could  you  possibly  come  into  this  melan- 
choly condition?"  **Nay,  prithee,  friend,"  replies  the 
fox,  "if  you  wish  me  well,  do  not  stand  pitying  of  me, 
but  lend  me  some  succor  as  fast  as  you  can ;  for  pity 


THE   PICTURE   PREACHER, 


153 


THE  FOX  IN  THE  WELL. 


What  doth  it  profit  ,,,,ifa  brother  or  sister  be  nalced  and  des- 
titute ....  and  ye  say  vnto  them,  depart  in  peace,  be  ye  warmed 
andjilled,  notwithstanding  ye  give  them  not  thosethings  which  are 

needful,     James  ii.  14, 15,  16. The  scribes  and  Pharisees  sit  in 

Moses^  seat ....  whatsoet:er  they  bid  you  observe  ....  that  do,  but 
do  not  after  their  works;  for  they  say  and  do  not.     Matt,  xxiii.  2, 

3. Let  us  not  love  in  word,  neither  in  tongue,  but  in  deed  and 

in  trutK     I.  John  iii.  18. 


164 


EOYAL   ROAD   TO   HAPPINESS;    OR 


is  but  cold  comfort  when  one  is  up  to  the  chin  in  water, 
and  within  a  hair's  breadth  of  starving  or  drowning." 

Application. — Pity,  indeed,  is,  of  itself,  but  poor  com- 
fort at  any  time;  and,  unless  it  produces  something 
more  substantial,  is  rather  impertinently  troublesome, 
than  any  way  agreeable.  To  stand  bemoaning  the 
misfortunes  of  our  friends,  without  offering  some  ex- 
pedient to  alleviate  them,  is  only  echoing  to  their  grief, 
and  putting  them  in  mind  that  they  are  miserable. 

He  is  truly  my  friend,  who  with  a  ready  presence  of 
mind  supports  me  ;  not  he  who  condoles  with  me  upon 
my  ill  success,  and  says  he  is  soiTy  for  my  loss.  In 
short,  a  favor  or  obligation  is  doubled  by  being  well- 
timed  ;  and  he  is  the  best  benefactor  who  knows  our 
necessities,  and  complies  with  our  wishes,  even  before 
we  ask  him. 


HASTY  OR  PASSIONATE  ANGER. 

A  farmer  having  for  a  short  time  been  left  in  charge 
of  his  only  son,  a  small  child,  asleep  in  the  cradle,  had 
occasion  to  go  into  the  adjoining  field  to  mend  a  gap 
in  his  fence,  left  his  favorite  dog  lying  by  the  cradle  to 
guard  his  child  from  harm.  On  his  return  he  was  hor- 
ror-struck at  the  sight  of  the  overturned  cradle ;  the 
bloody  clothes  in  disorder.  The  dog  was  lying  over 
the  cradle,  with  his  mouth  and  other  parts  of  his  body 
besmeared  with  blood.  Convinced  by  the  appearance 
that  the  dog  had  killed  his  child,  he  rushed  forward 
and  dashed  out  his  brains  with  the  hatchet  he  had  in 
hand;  then  turning  up  the  cradle,  he  found  the  child 
unhurt,  and  an  enormous  serpent  lying  dead  on  the 
floor,  killed  by  his  faithful  dog,  which  he  had  put  to 
death  in  blind,  passionate  anger. 

Were  the  motto  or  precept  duly  observed,  "  Be  sure 
of  your  facts j^^  it  would  prevent  a  vast  amount  of  ill 
feeling,  and  consequent  misery  would  be  avoided  in 
almost  every  station  in  human  life.     The  greater  part 


THE   PICTUBE   PREACHER. 


155 


HASTY  OR  PASSIONATE  ANGER. 


The  discretion  of  a  man  deferreth  his  anger,     Prov.  xix.  11. 

He  that  is  slow  to  wrath  is  of  great  understanding ;  hut  he 

that  is  hasty  of  spirit  exalteth  folly,     Prov.  xvi.  29. He  that  is 

soon  angry  dealeth  foolishly.     Prov.  xiv.  17. He  that  is  slow 

to  anger  is  better  than  the  mighty,  and  he  that  ruleth  his  spirit  than 

he  that  taketh  a  city,     Prov.  xvi.  32. Wherefore  let  every  man 

be swift  to  hear,  slow  to  wrath,     James  i.  19. Avenge  not 

yourselves^  but  rather  give  place  unto  wrath,     Rom.  xii.  19. 


156        ROYAL  ROAD  TO  HAPPINESS;  OR 

of  the  contentions  and  quarrels  in  all  ranks  proceed 
from  false  premises,  or  assuming  things  as  facts  which 
are  not  so. 

"  Passion,"  says  one,  **  is  the  fever  of  the  mind, 
which  leaves  as  worse  than  it  found  us.  It  is  the 
threshold  of  madness  and  insanity.  Indeed,  they  are 
so  much  alike  that  they  cannot  be  distinguished  ;  their 
effects  are  often  equally  fatal. 

The  first  step  to  moderation  is  to  perceive  that  we  are 
falling  into  a  passion.  It  is  much  easier  wholly  to 
prevent  ourselves  from  doing  this  than  to  keep  in  just 
bounds ;  that  which  few  can  moderate,  almost  anybody 
can  prevent. 

Envy  and  wrath  shorten  life,  and  anxiety  bringeth 
age  before  its  time. 

Who  overcomes  his  wayward  passion  overcomes  his 
strongest  enemy.  If  we  do  not  overcome  our  anger  it 
will  subdue  us. 

A  passionate  temper  renders  a  man  unfit  for  advice, 
deprives  him  of  his  reason,  robs  him  of  all  that  is  great 
and  noble  in  his  nature,  destroys  friendship,  changes 
justice  into  cruelty,  and  turns  all  order  into  confusion. 

Clitus,  the  friend  and  foster-brother  of  Alexander  the 
Great,  was  by  him  held  very  dear,  and  they  were  edu- 
cated together.  He  had  saved  the  life  of  Alexander  at 
a  battle  near  Granicus,  and  was  by  him  made  the  Pre- 
fect of  a  Province,  but  he  could  not  flatter ;  and  de- 
testing the  effeminacy  of  the  Persians,  at  a  feast  of  the 
King,  spake  with  the  liberty  of  a  Macedonian,  prefer- 
ring the  exploits  of  Philip,  the  Macedonian  King,  to 
those  of  Alexander,  his  son.  Alexander  w^as  so  en- 
raged at  him  in  a  fit  of  anger  that  he  killed  him  on  the 
spot  with  a  javelin.  When  the  fit  was  over  he  was 
with  difficulty  restrained  from  killing  himself  for  that 
sudden  fury  which  caused  him  to  kill  his  best  friend. 
It  has  been  just  so  with  many  others.  The  passion  of  a 
moment  has  often  ruined  the  peace  and  prosperity  of 
years. 


THE    PICTURE    PREACHER.  157 

HAPPINESS  IN  MARRIAGE. 

li;  is  a  common  saying  in  the  world  that  there  are 
but  few  happy  marriages  ;  and  doubly  deplorable 
would  be  the  condition  of  mankind  were  it  wholly 
true.  It  is  true,  however,  only  in  a  qualified  or  limi- 
ted sense. 

What  I  is  marriage,  in  itself,  considered  a  source  of 
wretchedness  rather  than  weal  ?  Do  they  who  marry 
change  their  condition  generally  for  the  worse  ?  Are 
the  married,  for  the  most  part,  less  happy  than  the 
unmarried  ?  So  it  is  not,  nor  will  any  assert  it  but  the 
profane  and  licentious,  or  the  inconsiderate.  Yet,  after 
all,  but  few  marriages  are  exceeding  happy.  And 
why  ?  It  is  not  for  lack  of  excellence  in  the  institu- 
tion, nor  because  the  connubial  state  is  not,  in  itself, 
conducive  to  human  comfort  and  weal.  Elsewhere 
lie  the  reasons,  of  which  some  will  be  included  in  the 
following  particulars : 

1.  It  often  happens  that  too  much  is  expected  before 
hand.  In  none  of  the  conditions  or  relations  of  this 
life  is  unalloyed  happiness  the  lot  of  man ;  and,  by 
consequence,  those  who  indulge  the  unreasonable 
expectation  of  finding  it  in  marriage,  must  inevitably 
drink  of  the  bitter  cup  of  disappointment. 

2.  Since  the  fall,  the  intercourse  of  married  life  has 
never  been  (such  as  it  primitively  was)  between  per- 
sons of  perfect  innocence  and  virtue ;  but  it  is  in  all 
cases  between  those  who  are  frail,  infirm  of  mind,  and 
more  or  less  defective  in  heart.  Now  it  is  for  want  of 
duly  considering  the  matter  before  their  marriage,  that 
a  great  many  couples  are  unreasonably  vexed  at  the 
infirmities,  failings  and  petty  faults  which  they  per- 
ceive in  each  other  afterwards;  charging  upon  wed- 
lock the  disappointment  which  originated  in  the  illu- 
sions of  their  own  fancies. 

3.  As  in  other  contracts,  so  in  that  of  marriage,  the 
parties  too   often  deal   unfairly  with  one  another  by 


158  KOYAL    ROAD    TO    HAPPINESS;    OR 

artfully  concealing  their  personal  defects  and  affecting 
qualities  of  which  they  are  devoid. 

That  ornament  of  human  nature^  as  well  as  of  the 
Society  of  Friends,  to  which  he  belonged,  namely, 
Dr.  Fothergill,  of  London,  a  man  alike  distinguished 
for  parts  and  learning,  for  benevolence  and  piety, 
being  informed  that  a  gentleman  at  a  house  where  he 
visited  was  paying  his  addresses  to  a  young  lady, 
desired  leave  to  give  him  one  piece  of  advice.  The 
gentleman,  making  a  bow  of  submission — ''  Friend," 
said  the  shrewd  physician,  ^*my  advice  is  this — that 
thou  shouldst  court  in  thy  every  day  clothes^ 

What  a  deal  of  matrimonial  disappointment  and 
strife  might  be  prevented  if,  while  the  treaty  was  going 
on,  both  the  wooers  and  the  wooed  would  appear  in 
their  every  day  clothes^  or  in  no  better  character  for  tem- 
per and  disposition,  or  for  any  attractive  and  estimable 
quality  than  such  as  they  were  determined  to  main- 
tain after  marriage,  constantly,  throughout  the  whole  of 
their  lives. 

4.  The  little  obliging  attentions,  which  are  the  food 
of  friendship,  and  without  which  close  and  ardent 
friendship  can  hardly  be  kept  alive  for  any  long  while, 
are  too  often  remitted  after  marriage,  and  even  discon- 
tinued. And  hence,  without  any  flagrant  fault  on 
either  side,  coolness  arises,  then  indifference,  and  finally 
alienation. 

5.  Among  the  higher  classes,  marriage,  in  too  many 
instances,  is  the  old,  calculating  chaffery  of  avarice 
and  ambition  for  money  or  for  rank.  And  as  neither  love 
nor  friendship  has  any  concern  in  the  contract,  it  is  no 
wonder  that  neither  love  nor  friendship  should  ever 
after  spring  up  to  bless  the  union. 

6.  Among  the  lower  classes  many  rush  into  mar- 
riage impr evidently,  or  without  being  furnished  with 
any  competent  means  of  supporting  a  family.  Pov- 
erty and  want  follow  of  course.  Their  own  suffering 
is  aggravated  by  the  sufferings  of  their  little  ones,  and 


THE    PICTURE    PREACHER.  159 

they  look  back,  with  deep  regret,  to  the  comparative 
comforts  of  their  single  lite. 

Lastly,  there  are  those  of  the  baser  soii:  who,  by 
reason  of  the  perverseness  of  their  tempers  or  the  de- 
pravity of  their  hearts,  and  the  viciousness  of  their 
lives,  would  needs  be  wretched  in  any  condition.  To 
meet  all  their  notions  and  make  them  contented  and 
happy  would  be  wholly  impossible. 

As  husbands  and  wives  they  mutually  are  fiend-like 
tormentors ;  if  equally,  the  connection  proves  the 
sorest  of  calamities  to  the  better  party. 

And  yet,  after  making  all  these  deductions,  it  is 
unquestionably  true  that  more  than  a  full  moiety  of 
the  social  comforts  enjoyed  in  this  world  is  the  fruit  of 
marriage. 

In  it  the  extreme  cases  either  way  are  compara- 
tively few.  Of  married  men  and  women  the  most,  by 
far,  are  made  neither  very  happy  nor  very  wretched  by 
this  connection. 

Between  these  two  extremes  there  is  an  intermediate 
class,  immense  in  number,  who,  though  they  constantly 
experience  a  mixture  of  good  and  evil  in  the  married 
state,  will  perceive,  nevertheless,  upon  a  fair  estimate, 
that  the  good  considerably  predominates. 

One  observation  more  and  I  shall  conclude.  The 
surest  basis  of  connubial  happiness  is  genuine  piety. 

*^  Wisdom,'^  as  observes  a  venerable  sage  in  the 
Apocrypha,  "  is  a  loving  spirit."  The  wisdom  that  is 
from  above  is  peaceable,  gentle,  and  easy  to  be  en- 
treated. 

The  humility,  the  meekness,  the  benevolence,  the 
gentleness  of  real  Christianity,  and  indeed  the  whole 
body  of  the  Christian  virtues,  when  heart-felt  and  acted 
out  in  sincerity,  do  directly  and  powerfully  tend  to 
sweeten  the  trials  and  multiply  the  comforts  of  those 
who  are  partners  together  in  marriage,  while  the  hope 
of  meeting  in  a  better  world  **  strews  to  the  grave  with 
flowers." 


160 


BOYAL   ROAD   TO   HAPPINESS ;    OR 


^^^^^^^^ 


THE  WOLF  m  DISGUISE. 


Mine  own  familiar  friend  in  lohom  I  trusted,  which  did  eat  of 

my  bread  hath  lifted  up  his  heel  against  me,     Psa.  xli.  9. With 

their  mouth  they  shew  much  love,  hut  their  heart  goeth  after  their 

covetoicsness.     Ezek.  xxxiii.  31. The  hypocrites  in  heart  heap 

up  wrath.    Job  xxxvi.  13. The  hypocrite^ a  hope  shall  perish. 

Job  viii.  13. 


THE    PICTURE    PREACHER.  161 


THE    WOLF    IN  DISGUISE. 

The  wolf  shown  in  the  engraving,  in  order  to  get 
among  the  flock,  procures  a  sheep^s  skin  and  disguises 
himself  in  it.  He  thus  succeeds  for  a  while  in  passing 
himself  off  as  one  of  the  flock,  until,  by  some  act  of 
his,  which  speaks  louder  than  any  words  which  he  can 
utter,  his  true  character  is  fully  revealed. 

Having  decoyed  one  of  the  flock  a  little  out  of 
sight  of  his  companions,  he  throws  him  and  is  seen  bit- 
ing and  devouring  the  helpless,  innocent  creature. 

Three  prominent  crimes  are  practiced  among  man- 
kind by  disguised  wolves — ^lying,  stealing  and  murder. 

The  first  sin  committed  in  our  world,  according  to  the 
Divine  record,  was  that  of  deception  and  lying.  God 
having  commanded  our  'first  parents  not  to  eat  of  the 
tree  of  the  knowledge  of  good  and  evil,  saying,  ^^  for 
in  the  day  thou  eatest  thereof  thou  shalt  surely  die." 
Whereupon  the  serpent,  called  the  Devil,  and  Satan, 
said  unto  the  woman,  ^^  Ye  shall  not  surely  die."  The 
woman  being  thus  deceived  by  this  liar,  took  of  the 
fruit  and  gave  to  her  husband,  who  also  ate,  and  in  the 
language  of  Milton — 

"  Earth  felt  the  wound,  and  nature  from  her  seat, 
Sighing  through  all  her  works,  gave  signs  of  woe 
That  all  was  lost." 

Satan,  since  his  appearance  in  our  world,  has  come 
in  many  forms.  Sometimes  he  appears  as  a  religious 
teacher,  and  even  as  a  shepherd  of  a  Christian  flock, 
carrying  with  him  the  shepherd's  crook ;  also,  a  book 
of  philosophy,  or  some  body  of  Divinity,  or  System, 
in  which  darkness  is  represented  as  light,  and  light 
as  darkness,  giving  many  words,  but  little  knowledge. 

His  figure,  as  seen  in  the  engraving,  has  something 
of  a  clerical  appearance,  but  looking  closely  we  per- 
ceive tJiat  the  shepherd  is  nothing  but  a  wolf  in  dis- 
guise.    Satan,  sometimes,  in  order  to  effect  his  own 


162  ROYAL    ROAD    TO    HAPPINESS;    OR 

purposes,  will  transform  himself  into  an  angel  of  light, 
and  venture  to  be  wise  above  what  is  written.  There 
are  some  sects  or  communities  who  consider  themselves 
too  holy  to  keep  God^s  commandments.  The  apostle 
speaks  of  some  such. 

The  true  character  of  one  who  is  assuming  that 
which  does  not  belong  to  him  is  often  made  manifest 
by  some  apparently  trivial  circumstance  or  some  small 
involuntary  action.  The  celebrated  Major  Andre,  who 
was  executed  as  a  spy  during  the  Revolutionary  war, 
was  discovered  by  the  officer  who  had  him  in  charge  to 
be  a  military  man  of  rank,  by  the  manner  of  his  walk. 
The  plea  of  being  a  countryman  about  his  ordinary 
business,  would  avail  nothing,  as  no  person  of  that 
kind  could  step  with  such  precision;  ^^Ms  actions 
spoke  louder  than  his  words J^ 

Stealing  and  murder  are  generally  committed  by 
wolves  in  disguise.  They  do  not  go  among  the  sheep 
for  any  good  purpose,  but  for  to  steal,  to  kill  and 
destroy.  The  thief,  a  professed  friend,  approaches  in  a 
sly  manner  toward  his  victim,  as  is  seen  in  the  engrav- 
ing, who  is  asleep  and  unconscious  of  the  wolf  being 
near  him.  He  is  seen  taking  a  valuable  document 
from  his  pocket — the  title-deed  to  a  large  estate  which 
it  is  absolutely  necessary  for  him  to  possess  in  order  to 
retain  his  property. 

One  crime  leads  to  another :  so  the  thief  who  stole 
the  title-deed,  in  order  to  cover  up  his  stealing,  com- 
mits murder  J  the  last  crime  represented  in  the  engrav- 
ing. In  this  action  he  follows  the  example  of  his  mas- 
ter, who  is  declared  by  inspiration  to  be  ^^a  murderer 
from  the  beginning  .  .  .  because  there  is  no  truth  in 
him."  A  person  who  was  knowing  to  some  of  the  cir- 
cumstances connected  with  the  stealing  of  the  deed 
could  give  evidence  in  a  court  which  it  was  feared 
would  prevent  the  thief  from  getting  the  property  so\ 
much  coveted.  He  therefore  determined  to  get  him 
out  of  the  way      For  this  purpose  he  employed  one  of] 


THE    PICTURE    PREACHER.  163 

his  companions — an  accomplice  in  crime,  to  murder  the 
expected  witness,  for  whicn  he  was  to  have  a  share  of 
the  plunder.  So  the  engraving^  illustrates  the  succes- 
sive steps  by  which  the  wicked  go  from  one  crime  to 
another,  until  murder,  the  highest  of  all  crimes,  is 
finally  committed. 

USEFUL  INDUSTRY  A  MORAL    DUTY. 

The  fourth  commandment  lays  upon  us  two  obliga- 
tions— it  imposes  labor  no  less  than  it  enjoins  a  holy 
rest.  ^^  Six  days  shalt  thou  labor  and  do  all  thy  work." 
Hence  it  is  a  fair  inference  that  a  life  of  voluntary 
idleness  is  a  life  of  disobedience  to  the  law  and  will  of 
heaven. 

Well  directed  industry  is  a  moral  and  Christian  duty 
which  none  that  are  capable  of  can  dispense  with  and 
remain  innocent.  Neither  wealth,  nor  rank,  nor  sex, 
can  excuse  a  person  in  good  health,  and  of  competent 
faculties,  from  useful  labor,  either  of  body  or  mind,  or 
of  both.  Employment,  useful  employment,  is  for  men 
and  women.  And,  indeed,  as  little  is  there  granted  as 
the  liberty  of  doing  no  good  at  all  with  our  faculties, 
as  of  employing  them  in  doing  mischief 

Labor  is  either  mental,  or  bodily,  or  mixed.  There 
are  none  to  whom  labor  is  a  greater  ^^  weariness  of  the 
flesh,"  as  well  as  of  the  nobler  part  of  humanity,  than  to- 
men  of  close  and  remitless  study ;  and  there  are  none 
whose  industry  is  more  useful  to  mankind.  The  man 
of  parts  who,  in  solitude,  and  peradventure  in  neglected 
poverty,  employs  discreetly,  the  faculties  of  his  mind 
to  enlighten  and  instruct  his  fellow-beings,  is  a  bene- 
factor to  community.  Nevertheless,  he  errs  woe- 
fully, if  he  neglects  to  exercise  his  body.  It  is  lament- 
able to  see  how  many  men  of  study,  how  many  prom- 
ising youths  waste  their  strength,  impair  their  consti- 
tutions, and  bring  upon  themselves  incurable  diseases 
and  premature  death,  solely  for  the  want  of  a  proper 


164  KOYAL   ROAD   TO   HAPPINESS;    OR 

mixture  of  bodily  exercise  with  the  strenuous  labors  of 
their  minds. 

The  man,  who,  of  all  the  American  worthies  was 
first  in  the  hearts  of  his  countrymen,  was  no  less  re- 
markable for  industry  than  for  his  wisdom  and  integ- 
rity. 

One  of  the  biographers  of  Washington  remarks  of 
him,  ^^  his  industry  was  unremitted,  and  his  method  so 
exact,  that  all  the  complicated  business  of  his  military 
command  and  civil  administration,  was  managed  with- 
out confusion,  and  without  huny.  It  was  the  assem- 
blage of  these  traits  of  character,  so  early  visible  in 
him,  that  recommended  him  when  scarcely  more  than 
a  boy,  to  an  embassy  of  no  ordinary  importance." 

Few  things  are  impossible  to  industry  skillfully 
directed.  By  it  men  of  but  middling  talents  rise  some- 
times to  deserved  eminence;  by  it  the  man  of  ^^  small 
things "  expands  himself,  little  by  little,  till  he  at  last 
comes  to  occupy  a  respectable  space  in  society ;  and 
by  it  the  face  of  the  living  world  is  illumined  and  glad- 
dened. 

Sloth  is  a  rust  that  eats  up  the  finest  ingredients  of 
genius  and  consumes  and  mars  the  greatest  of  fortunes. 
lie  that  is  slothful  of  mind  loseth  his  mind.  He  that 
is  slothful  in  business  will  at  last  have  neither  business 
to  do,  nor  anything  to  sustain  his  declining  age.  In 
short,  a  downright  slug,  whether  in  high  life  or  low, 
rather  vegetates  than  lives. 

The  Germans  of  all  ranks,  from  peasant  to  prince, 
are  taught  some  useful  trade  or  profession  in  their 
early  life,  so  that  they  may  be  able  to  earn  a  living  by 
honest  labor.  Nor  are  the  upper  class  of  Germans 
like  our  own  country  people  who  get  up  in  the  world, 
afraid  of  soiling  their  gentility,  but  they  mingle  freely 
with  their  common  people  whenever  occasion  calls  for 
it,  rightly  thinking  that  the  common  bond  of  humanity 
is  ever  the  highest  of  all  claims  to  one's  notice  and 
regard. 


THE    PICTURE    PREACHER.  165 

The  great  Prince  Bismarck,  of  Prussia,  was  well 
trained  as  a  farmer,  and  the  following  anecdote  will 
show  how  good  was  his  education.  One  day  he  was 
proceeding  on  foot  from  the  Springs  to  Kissengen  town 
and  was  obliged  to  cross  a  meadow  which  was  just 
being  mowed.  The  Prince  takes  great  interest  in 
agricultural  affairs,  so  he  began  to  talk  with  the 
mowers,  who  did  not  recognize  him,  and  at  last 
requested  one  of  them  to  give  him  a  scythe,  which  he 
used  with  great  skill. 

The  Bavarian  peasants  were  astonished  at  this  proof 
of  skill  on  the  part  of  a  gentleman,  who  appeared  to 
them  to  belong  to  the  tipper  classes,  and  expressed 
their  admiration  accordingly.  As  soon  as  the  Prince 
had  left  off  mowing  the  grass,  one  of  the  countrymen 
turned  to  him  and  remarked — ^^  You  seem  to  be  a  good 
farmer,  sir,  and  can  use  a  scythe  better  than  I  who 
have  worked  with  one  more  than  forty  years." 

*^  Well,  my  dear  fellow,"  replied  Bismarck,  '^  one  gets 
acquainted  with  many  things  in  one's  life,  and  what  I 
do  1  like  to  do  properly." 

The  Prince  now  took  leave  of  the  people,  shaking 
hands  with  the  man  who  had  lent  him  the  scythe,  and 
congratulating  all  on  the  prospect  of  a  good  harvest 
which  lay  before  them. 

The  chancellor  was  hardly  out  of  sight  of  the  poor 
peasants  when  a  stranger,  who  had  watched  the  scene 
very  attentively,  came  up  to  the  latter  and  asked  them 
if  they  had  any  idea  with  whom  they  had  spoken. 
"  No,"  replied  the  lender  of  the  scythe  ;  ^^but,  at  any 
rate,  he  seems  to  be  a  good  farmer  to  me,  at  least, 
and  I  ought  to  be  a  judge."  *^Well,"  replied  the 
stranger,  ^*  he  is  no  less  a  person  than  Prince  Bismarck,''^ 
*^What,"  exclaimed  the  peasant,  bewildered  with  the 
information,  ^Mt  was  he  who  used  my  scythe  ?  Then 
I  would  not  part  with  it  for  any  money."  The  labor 
itself  and  the  homely  scythe  had  been  dignified  in  the 
man's  esteem. 


166 


EOYAL   IIOAD   TO   HAPPINEyJi;   OE 


THE  TWO  DOGS. 


Make  no  friendship  with  an  angry  man;  and  with  a  furious 

man  thou  shalt  not  go,     Prov.  xxi.  24. JBe  ye  not  unequally 

yoked  together,     II.  Cor.  vi.  14. 1  would  not  that  ye  should 

have  fellowship  with  devils,     I.  Cor.  x.  20. But  now  J  have 

written  unto  you  not  to  keep  company^  if  any  man   that  is  a 

brother  be  a  fornicator, ....  railer,  or with  such  an  one  no 

not  to  eat,     L  Cor.  v.  11. Abstain  from  all  appearance  of  evil. 

I.  Thess.  V.  22. 


THE    PICTURE    rREACHEE.  1G7 

THE   TWO  DOGS. 

A  good-natured  spaniel  overtook  a  surly  mastiff,  as 
he  was  traveling  upon  the  high  road.  Tray,  although 
an  entire  stranger  to  Tiger,  civilly  accosted  him ;  and 
if  it  would  be  no  interruption,  he  said,  he  should  be 
glad  to  bear  him  company  on  his  way.  Tiger,  who 
happened  not  to  be  in  so  growling  a  mood  as  usual, 
accepted  the  proposal ;  and  they  very  amicably  pur- 
sued their  journey  together.  In  the  midst  of  their 
journey  they  arrived  at  the  next  village,  where  Tiger 
began  to  display  his  malignant  disposition  by  an  un- 
provoked attack  upon  every  dog  he  met.  The  villagers 
sallied  forth  with  great  indignation  to  rescue  their 
favorites;  and  falling  upon  our  two  friends  without 
distinction  or  mercy,  poor  Tray  was  most  brutally 
treated,  for  no  other  reason  but  his  being  in  bad  com- 
pany. 

Application. — It  is  stated  in  the  school  book  froni 
which  this  fable  is  copied,  ^^  Hasty  and  inconsiderate 
friendships  are  generally  attended  with  great  disad- 
vantages ;  and  much  of  every  man's  good  or  ill  for- 
tune depends  upon  the  choice  of  his  friends." 


SELF-INFLICTED   TORTURE. 

Nothing  is  more  common  than  the  discontent  of 
those  who  have  not  a  shadow  of  cause  for  discontent 
They  are  neither  sick,  nor  pinched  with  poverty,  nor 
called  to  sustain  distressing  hardships.  They  enjoy 
their  food  and  have  good  digestion.  They  have  raiment 
to  put  on,  and  friends  to  converse  with ;  and  if  not 
rich,  have  fully  enough  for  the  moderate  supply  of  all 
their  real  wants.  Yet  these  enjoyments,  these  bounties 
of  indulgent  heaven,  are  poisoned,  as  it  were,  by  the 
discontent  of  their  minds,  so  that  they  are  wretched 
amidst  health  and  competence. 


168  ROYAL    ROAD    TO    HAPPINESS;    OR 

What  are  the  illusions  that  thus  obstruct  the  sources 
of  enjoyment,  and,  in  this  favored  country,  cheat  so 
many  out  of  the  happiness  of  which  Providence  has 
put  them  in  possession  ?  They  are  such  as  usually 
spring  from  one  or  other  of  the  three  following  causes : 
perverseness  of  temper ;  false  theories  of  worldly  hap- 
piness ;  the  influence  of  opinion. 

With  respect  to  enjoying  ourselves  or  not  in  life, 
a  great  deal  more  depends  upon  temper  than  upon  cir- 
cumstances. Not  that  our  enjoyments  are  not  always 
considerably  aff*ected  by  our  worldly  circumstances, 
and  sometimes  in  a  very  great  degree ;  but  if  they  are 
such  that  we  are  able  to  supply  ourselves  with  all  the 
real  necessaries  and  essential  comforts  of  life,  it  is  not 
our  circumstances  but  our  tempers  that  are  in  fault,  if 
we  are  not  too  happy  to  complain  and  too  grateful  to 
repine. 

The  root  of  our  uneasiness  is  altogether  in  our  own 
minds,  and  without  a  thorough  change  there,  no  change 
of  place  or  of  outward  circumstances  could  quiet  us. 
What  though  all  our  present  ideal  wants  were  satisfied, 
other  ideal  wants  would  presently  start  up,  and  we 
should  still  be  weaving  for  ourselves  the  web  of  mis- 
ery. A  temper  that  inclines  to  be  satisfied  with  its  pres- 
ent lot  is  worth  more  than  thousands  a  year  ;  whereas 
restlessness  of  temper  is  one  of  the  greatest  of  misfor- 
tunes. 

A  full  half  of  human  troubles  would  vanish,  and  the 
rest  be  lightened,  if  there  was  a  thorough  cure  of  this 
scrofulous  disease  of  the  heart. 

Our  false  theories  of  worldly  happiness  constitute 
another  large  class  of  troubles  of  our  own  making; 
and  the  effects  of  these  false  theories  are  the  most  de- 
plorable, inasmuch  as  the  disappointments  inevitably 
resulting  from  them,  sour  the  disposition,  and  tliereby 
enhance  the  niunbers  of  the  wretched  victims  of  tem- 
per. 

Corporeal  enjoyments  are  few  and  simple ;  neither 


THE   PICTURE    PREACHER.  169 

wealth  nor  any  of  tlie  arts  of  refinement  can  add  con- 
siderably to  their  number,  or  anything  at  all  to  their 
relish.  The  pleasures  of  sense  are  limited  by  nan-ow 
boundaries,  which  never  can  be  passed  without  turning 
pleasure  into  pain ;  and  however  much  we  may  refine 
upon  the  pleasures  of  sense,  our  refinements  can  in- 
crease them  but  very  little.  The  most  refined  epicure, 
for  example,  has  scarcely  any  more  enjoyment  of  the 
pleasures  of  the  table  than  one  who  confines  himself  to 
the  plainest  viands.  Wherefore  nothing  is  more  plain 
and  easy  of  comprehension  than  the  notion  of  mere 
worldly  happiness — the  results  from  health,  compe- 
tence, the  friendly  society  of  neighbors  and  acquaint- 
ance, and  the  pure  joys  of  domestic  life. 

He  that  has  these,  though  he  have  neither  wealth  nor 
rank,  enjoys  about  all  the  world  can  bestow.  But 
these  real  and  unsophisticated  enjoyments,  which  are 
bestowed  in  fully  as  large  measure  upon  the  peasant 
as  upon  the  prince,  are  too  vulgar  for  the  fastidious 
taste  of  the  visionary  speculatists ;  they  must  find 
something  that  is  quite  beyond  the  common  blessings 
of  life,  else  they  are  determined  not  to  enjoy  them- 
selves at  all.  Thus  they  lose  the  good  that  lies  fairly 
within  their  reach,  by  laying  out  their  endeavors  to 
grasp  an  abstract  something,  that  is  conceivable  indeed, 
but  not  attainable  ;  an  ignis  fatuus,  which  the  eye  plainly 
sees,  but  which  evades  the  touch  and  baffles  all  pursuit. 

The  last  brood  of  artificial  troubles  which  I  proposed 
to  notice,  are  those  that  are  generated  by  the  influence 
of  opinion.  I  mean  not  one's  own  opinion,  but  the 
opinion  of  others.  We  are  such  strange  and  unac- 
countable creatures  that  we  are  more  solicitous  to  ap- 
pear happy  than  really  to  be  so  ;  and  hence  we  will- 
ingly abridge  our  real  enjoyments  for  the  sake  of 
seeming  to  possess  enjoyments  superior  to  those  that 
are  altogether  common  to  mankind.  Now  the  general 
opinion  of  society  (a  very  erroneous  one  indeed)  makes 
the  pomp  of  show   a   prerequisite   for  being  deemed 

8 


170        ROYAL  ROAD  TO  HAPPINESS;  OR 

happy,  or,  at  least,  for  obtaining  the  credit  of  refined 
enjoyment ;  and  this  general  opinion,  how  much  soever 
we  may  despise  it  in  our  judgments,  has  an  astonishing 
influence  upon  our  conduct  and  feelings ;  an  influence 
that  precipitates  hundreds  and  tens  of  hundreds  from  a 
condition  of  competence  to  that  of  poverty. 

The  wise  Dr.  Franklin  observes :  *^  The  eyes  of  other 
people  are  the  eyes  that  ruin  us.  If  all  but  myself 
were  blind,  I  should  want  neither  fine  clothes,  fine 
houses,  nor  fine  furniture/'  It  is  even  so ;  and  it  is 
this  supreme  regard  to  the  eyes  of  others  that  leads 
multitudes  into  extravagant  and  ruinous  expenses. 

Without  adequate  funds  they  build  them  fine  houses, 
and  purchase  them  fine  furniture,  and  array  themselves 
with  costly  apparel,  that  others  may  gaze  upon  them 
as  persons  possessed  of  taste  and  of  refined  enjoy- 
ments ;  and  by  these  means  they  are  presently  stripped 
of  the  very  necessaries  of  life. 


THE   WOLF  AND   THE   LAMB. 

To  a  clear  stream,  one  sultry  summer's  day, 

A  wolf  and  lamb  had  chanced  to  take  their  way; 

The  lamb,  whose  life  the  murderous  tyrant  sought, 
Mildly  denied  each  charge  the  wolf  had  brought. 

When  proved  a  liar,  at  his  victim  flies. 
The  lamb  is  seized — torn,  bleeding,  helpless  dies. 

One  hot,  sultry  day  a  wolf  and  a  lamb  happened  to 
come,  juet  at  the  same  time,  to  quench  their  thirst  in 
the  stream  of  a  clear,  silvery  brook  that  ran  tumbling 
down  the  side  of  a  rocky  mountain.  The  wolf  stood 
upon  the  higher  ground,  and  the  lamb  at  some  dis- 
tance from  him,  down  the  current.  However,  the  wolf 
having  a  mind  to  pick  a  quarrel  with  him,  asked  him 
what  he  meant  by  disturbing  the  water  and  making  it 
so  muddy  that  he  could  not  drink,  and  at  the  same 
time  demanded  satisfaction.     The  lamb,  frightened  at 


THE  PICTUKE  PKEACHER. 


171 


THE  WOLF  AND  THE  LAMB. 


In  secret  places  doth  he  murder  tne  innocent;  his  eyes  are  privily 

set  against  tliepoor.     Psa.  x.  8. The  proud  have  forged  a  lie 

against  me.    Psa.  cxix.  69. The  mouth  of  the  wicked  a) id  the 

mouth  of  the  deceitful  are  opened  against  me;  they  have  spoken 

against  me  with  a  lying  tongue,     Psa.  cix.  2. T/tey  break  in 

pieces  thy  people,  0  Lord,  and  afflict  thy  heritage.     They  slay  the 
widow  and  the  stranger  ^  and  murder  the  fatherless,   Psa.  xciv.  6, 6. 


172  ROYAL    ROAD    TO    HAPPINESS;    OR 

this  tlireatening  charge,  told  him,  in  a  tone  as  mild  as 
possible,  ^^  that,  with  humble  submission,  he  could  not 
conceive  how  that  could  be,  since  the  water  which  he 
drank  ran  down  from  the  wolf  to  him,  and  therefore  it 
could  not  be  disturbed  so  far  up  the  stream."  *^  Be 
that  as  it  will,"  replies  the  wolf,  ^^you  are  a  rascal,  and 
I  have  been  told  that  you  treated  me  with  ill  language 
behind  my  back,  about  half  a  year  ago."  "  Upon  my 
word,"  says  the  lamb,  ^^  the  time  you  mention  was 
before  I  was  born."  The  wolf,  finding  it  to  no  pur- 
pose to  argue  any  longer  against  truth,  fell  into  a  great 
passion,  snarling  and  foaming  at  the  mouth,  as  if  he 
had  been  mad,  and  drawing  nearer  to  the  lamb, 
'^Sirrah,"  says  he,  ^4f  it  was  not  you,  it  was  your 
father,  and  thafs  all  one."  So  he  seized  the  poor, 
innocent,  helpless  creature,  tore  it  to  pieces,  and  made 
a  meal  of  it. 

Application. — The  thing  which  is  pointed  at  in  this 
fable  is  to  show  that  even  a  tyrant  wishes  to  have  some 
pretext  for  his  villainy  and  cruelty.  When  an  ill- 
natured  man  has  a  mind  to  abuse  one  inferior  to  him- 
self either  in  power  or  courage,  though  he  has  not 
given  the  least  occasion  for  it,  how  does  he  resemble 
the  wolf!  In  short,  wherever  ill  people  are  in  power, 
innocence  and  integrity  are  but  slight  barriers  against 
rapacity  and  oppression;  the  more  vicious  the  com- 
munity is  the  better  countenance  they  have  for  their 
own  villainous  measures ;  to  practice  honesty  in  bad 
times  is  being  liable  to  suspicion  enough,  but  if  any 
one  should  dare  to  prescribe  it,  it  is  ten  to  one  but  he 
would  be  impeached  of  high  crimes  and  misdemeanors, 
for,  to  stand  up  for  justice  in  a  degenerate  and  corrupt 
state  is  tacitly  to  upbraid  the  government,  and  seldom 
fails  of  pulling  down  vengeance  upon  the  head  of  him 
that  offers  to  stir  in  its  defence.  Where  cruelty  and 
malice  are  in  combination  with  power,  nothing  is  so 
easy  as  for  them  to  find  a  pretence  to  tyrannize  over 
innocence,  and  exercise  all  manner  of  injustice. 


THE   PICTURE   PREACHER. 


173 


THE  FOX  AND  THE  STORK. 


Let  no  corrupt  communication  proceed  out  of  your  mouthy  hut 

that  which  is  good  to  the  use  of  edifying^ he  kind  one  to 

another.     Eph.  iv.  29,  32. Be  ye  therefore  followers  of  God, 

.  ,  ,  ,  all  uncleanness  let  it  not  he  once  named  among  you  ....  nor 

foolish  talking,  nor  Jesting.     Eph.  v.  1-4. Be  kindly  affec- 

tioned  oneto  another.     Rom.  xii.  10. Be  pitiful,  he  courteous. 

L  Pet.  iii.  8. As  ye  would  that  men  should  do  unto  you  do  ye 

also  unto  them. 


174  ROYAL    ROAD   TO    HAPPINESS;    OR 

THE  FOX  AND  THE   STORK. 

The  fox  invited  the  stork  to  dinner,  and  being  dis- 
posed to  divert  himself  at  the  expense  of  his  guest, 
provided  nothing  for  the  entertainment  but  a  soup,  in 
a  wide,  shallow  dish.  This  he  himself  could  lap  up 
with  a  great  deal  of  ease  but  the  stork,  who  could  but 
just  dip  in  the  point  of  his  bill,  was  not  a  bit  the  bet- 
ter all  the  while;  however,  in  a  few  days  after,  he 
returned  the  compliment,  and  invited  the  fox,  but  suf- 
fered nothing  to  be  brought  to  the  table  but  some 
minced  meat  in  a  glass  jar,  the  neck  of  which  was  so 
deep  and  so  narrow  that  though  the  stork,  with  his  long 
bill,  made  a  shift  to  fill  his  stomach,  all  that  the  fox, 
who  was  very  hungry,  could  do,  was  to  lick  the  brims, 
as  the  stork  slobbered  them  with  his  eating.  Reynard 
was  heartily  vexed  at  first,  but  when  he  came  to  take 
his  leave,  he  owned,  ingenuously,  that  he  had  been 
used  as  he  deserved,  and  that  he  had  no  reason  to  take 
any  treatment  ill  of  which  he  himself  had  set  the 
example. 

Application. — It  is  mighty  imprudent,  as  well  as 
inhuman  and  uncivil,  to  affront  anybody;  and  who- 
ever takes  the  liberty  to  exercise  his  witty  talents  that 
way  must  not  think  much  of  it  if  he  meet  with  repris- 
als. Indeed,  if  all  those  who  are  thus  paid  in  their 
own  coin,  would  take  it  with  the  same  frankness  as  the 
fox  did,  the  matter  would  not  be  much,  but  we  are  too 
apt,  when  the  jest  comes  to  be  turned  home  upon  our- 
selves, to  think  that  insufferable  in  another  which  we 
looked  upon  as  pretty  and  facetious  when  the  humor 
was  our  own.  The  rule  of  doing  as  we  would  be  done 
by,  so  proper  to  be  our  model  in  every  transaction  of 
life,  may  more  particularly  be  of  use  in  this  respect, 
because  people  seldom  or  never  receive  any  advantage 
by  these  little,  ludicrous  impositions ;  and  yet,  if  they 
were  to  ask  themselves  the  question,  would  find  that 
another's  using  them  in  the  same  manner  would  be  very 
displeasing. 


THE   PICTURE   PKEACHEK. 


175 


i 


THE  TWO  FROGS. 


The  wisdom  of  the  prudent  is  to  understand  his  way.     The 
prudent  man  looketh  icellto  his  goings^ .  . .  the  prudent  are  crowned 

with  knowledge,     Prov.  xiv.  8, 15,  18. A  prudent  man  forseeth 

the  evil,     Prov.  xxil  3. Zead  us  not  into  temptation  hut  deliver 

us  from  evil.     Matt.  vL  13. Keep  hack  thy  servant  from  pre- 
sumptuous sins,     Psa.  xix.  13. Ponder  the  path  of  thy  feet,  and 

let  all  thy  ways  he  estahlished,     Prov.  iv.  26. Neither  let  the 

deep  swallow  me  up,     Psa.  Ixix.  16. 


OF  THK 


176  KOYAL   KOAD   TO   HAPPINESS;   OR 

THE   TWO   FROGS. 

One  hot,  sultry  summer,  the  lakes  and  ponds  being 
almost  everywhere  dried  up,  a  couple  of  frogs  agreed 
to  travel  together  in  search  of  water.  At  last  they 
came  to  a  deep  well,  and  sitting  upon  the  brink  of  it, 
began  to  consult  whether  they  should  leap  in  or  no. 
One  of  them  was  for  it,  urging  that  there  was  plenty 
of  clear  spring  water,  and  no  danger  of  being  dis- 
turbed. ^'  Well,"  says  the  other,  ^^  all  this  may  be 
true,  and  yet  I  cannot  come  into  your  opinion  for  my 
life ;  for,  if  the  water  should  happen  to  dry  down  there 
too,  how  should  we  get  out  again?" 

Application. — The  moral  of  this  fable  is  intended  to 
put  us  in  mind  to  look  before  we  leap.  That  we  should 
not  undertake  any  action  of  importance  without  con- 
sidering first  what  the  event  of  it  is  likely  to  prove, 
and  how  we  shall  be  able  to  come  off  upon  such  and 
such  provisos. 

A  good  general  does  not  think  he  diminishes  any- 
thing of  his  character  when  he  looks  forward  beyond 
the  main  action,  and  concerts  measures  in  case  there 
should  be  occasion  for  a  safe  retreat.  How  many  un- 
fortunate matches  are  struck  up  every  day  for  want  of 
this  wholesome  consideration!  Profuse  living  and 
extravagant  gaming,  both  of  which  terminate  in  the 
ruin  of  those  that  follow  them,  are  mostly  owing  to  a 
neglect  of  this  precaution. 

Wicked  counsellors  advise,  and  ignorant  princes 
execute  those  things  which  afterwards  they  often  dearly 
repent.  Wars  are  begim  by  this  blind  stupidity,  from 
which  a  state  is  not  able  to  extricate  itself  with  either 
honor  or  safety ;  and  projects  are  encouraged  by  the 
rash  accession  of  those  who  never  considered  how  they 
were  to  get  out,  till  they  had  plunged  themselves  irre- 
coverably into  them.  The  wisdom  of  fully  considering 
all  that  action  involves,  before  action  is  taken,  is  a  les- 
son that  nations  and  individuals  both  need  to  learn. 


THE    PICTURE    PREACHER.  177 

THE  TRAVELERS  AND  THE  LOST  MONEY- 
BAG. 

Two  poor  men  wishing  to  travel  from  one  part  of 
the  country  to  another,  and  having  but  little  money, 
they  were  obliged  to  go  all  the  way  on  foot.  They 
concluded  it  would  be  mutually  beneficial  to  go  in  com- 
pany with  each  other.  These  poor  men  knew  but  very 
little  of  each  other  before  their  journey.  But  they 
said  we  are  men  who  ought  to  lend  a  helping  hand  to 
each  other,  and  as  far  as  they  could,  share  whatever 
good  or  evil  fortune  which  might  await  them  on  their 
joiu-ney.  While  traveling  on  the  road  one  of  the  men 
found  a  farmer's  canvas  money-bag,  which  on  taking 
up  found  it  contained  a  considerable  amount  of  money, 
and  overjoyed,  exclaimed,  ^*  I  have  found  a  bag  of 
money."  *^Do  not  say  J/'  says  the  other,  ^^but  we 
have  found,  for  as  we  are  companions,  we  ought  to 
share  it  between  us."  The  first,  who  was  a  selfish, 
grasping  creature,  having  possession  of  the  money,  re- 
vised to  share  it  with  his  companion.  However,  they 
had  not  gone  far  before  the  owner  of  the  bag,  hearing 
what  had  become  of  it,  pursued  them  with  a  warrant ; 
which,  when  the  fellow  that  had  it  perceived,  ^^  Alas  !" 
said  he  to  his  companion,  "we  are  undone."  "Nay," 
says  the  other,  "  do  not  say  ive^  but  I  am  undone  :  for 
as  you  would  not  let  me  share  the  prize,  neither  will  I 
share  the  danger  with  you." 

Application. — One  object  of  the  foregoing  fable,  or 
rather  transaction,  as  it  may  be  called,  is  to  show  the 
hateful  nature  of  selfishness  as  it  is  sometimes  exhib- 
ited. The  selfish  man  is  one  that  cares  but  little  or 
nothing  about  the  welfare  or  happiness  of  others,  pro- 
vided his  own  selfish  desires  are  gratified.  He  is  will- 
ing to  violate  the  laws  of  honor  and  integrity,  which 
govern  men  who  lay  any  claim  to  upright,  moral  prin- 
ciples. By  such  conduct  he  not  only  violates  the  laws 
of  men,  but  also,  the   law  of  God  contained  in  the 

8* 


178 


ROYAL   ROAD   TO   HAPPINESS;   OR 


THE  TRAVELERS  AND  THE  LOST  MONEY-BAG. 


For  with  what  judgment  yejudge^  ye  shall  he  judged;  and  with 
what  measure  ye  mete^  it  shall  he  measured  to  you  again.  Matt. 
vii.  2.— — His  ....  dealing  shall  come  down  upon  his  own  pate, 

Psa.  vii.  16. There  is  that  withholdeth  more  than  is  meet,  hut  it 

tendeth  to  proverty,    Prov.  xi  24, 


THE    PICTURE    PREACHER  179 

Decalogue,  which  he  cannot  break  with  impunity.  He 
proves  himself  a  liar  and  a  thief ^  in  that  he  has  broken 
his  promise  to  his  companion,  and  has  taken  what  does 
not  belong  to  him.  For  the  sake  of  hoarding  up  a 
little  money,  he  has  lost  human  sympathy.  He  is 
despised  and  detested.  He  has  cheated  himself  and  has 
in  some  respects  become  an  outcast  from  heaven  and 
earth. 

This  fable  shows  us  the  convenience,  if  not  the  ne- 
cessity of  being  cautious  about  taking  into  intimate 
fellowship  those  with  whose  character  we  are  not  ac- 
quainted. We  want  our  friendships  firm  and  lasting. 
And  to  this  pu;-pose  nothing  is  so  requisite  as  a  strict 
observance  of  the  rules  of  honor  and  generosity ;  for 
the  very  life  and  soul  of  friendship  subsists  upon 
mutual  benevolence,  upon  conferring  and  receiving  ob- 
ligations on  either  hand. 

A  stingy,  reserved  behavior  starves  it ;  it  ought  to 
be  open,  free,  and  communicative,  without  the  least 
tincture  of  suspicion  or  distrust.  For  jealousy,  in 
friendship,  is  a  certain  indication  of  a  false  heart ; 
though,  in  love,  it  may  be  a  distinguishing  mark  of  a 
true  one.  Nor  is  there  anything  merely  chimerical  or 
romantic  in  this  notion ;  for,  if  we  examine,  we  shall 
find  that  reason  will  confirm  the  truth,  and  experience 
evince  the  utility  of  it. 

He  that  hopes  for  assistance  or  accommodation  in 
any  exigency  or  time  of  misfortune,  must  lay  in  a  pro- 
vision for  it  by  watching  the  necessities  of  his  acquaint- 
ance, and  relieving  the  most  deserving  of  them  in  their 
straits,' by  a  ready  and  a  willing  contribution.  By  this 
means,  gratitude,  which  is  never  wanting  to  an  honest 
mind,  will  secure  us  a  reasonable  fund  of  reversion ;  and 
all  the  favors  we  bestow  will,  like  the  tide  of  a  river, 
in  due  season,  flow  back  again  upon  us.  It  will  prove 
true,  as  affirmed  in  the  scriptures,  that  he  who  soweth 
bountifully,  shall  reap  also  bountifully.  The  reverse 
also  holds  true  of  the  niggardly  sower. 


180        ROYAL  ROAD  TO  HAPPINESS;  OR 

CHRISTIAN  HONESTY. 

The  line  of  Pope, 

"  An  honest  man's  the  no"blest  work  of  God," 

has  been  pronounced  unworthy  of  that  celebrated  poet, 
forasmuch  as  honesty  is  but  a  vulgar  virtue,  as  Com- 
mon to  the  meanest  as  to  the  greatest  abiHties.  Hon- 
esty, though  commendable,  is  so  far  from  being  one  of 
the  noblest  of  human  qualities,  that  the  honest  man 
may  be  but  a  plain,  simple  man,  of  contracted  intellect, 
of  very  little  education,  and  of  a  low  condition.  This 
the  noblest  work  of  God  ! 

Now,  to  adjust  this  matter  between  the  poet  and  the 
critic,  it  will  be  necessary  to  take  a  cursory  view  of 
the  different  standards  of  honesty,  according  to  one  or 
other  of  which  reputedly  honest  men  square  the  con- 
duct, and  of  the  different  principles  by  which  they  are 
governed. 

Men  sometimes  act  honestly  from  policy,  rather  than 
from  a  principle  of  probity.  They  believe,  and  be- 
lieve aright,  that  "  honesty  is  .the  best  policy."  Ac- 
cording to  this  sound  maxim  they  mean  to  act,  and 
they  greatly  find  their  account  in  it.  In  short,  none  are 
wiser  in  their  generation  than  those  who  are  honest 
altogether  from  policy.  While  carefully  minding  to 
keep  themselves  within  the  hedge  of  the  law,  they 
without  mercy  or  pity  take  every  advantage  that  the 
law  will  let  them.  They  escape  the  infamy  and  pun- 
ishment which  commonly  befall  the  impolitic  wights, 
who  are  versed  in  the  black  art  of  downright  roguery. 
Thus  they  walk  in  a  plain,  safe  path.  An  honest  repu- 
tation is  their  passport,  and  the  laws  of  society  are  their 
protection. 

These  are  your  hard  honest  men,  who  are  honest 
merely  for  their  own  safety  and  profit,  and  are  just  as 
selfish  in  their  honesty  as  in  everything  else.  True 
enough,  the  poet  is  worthy  of  reprehension  if  he  meant 


THE    PICTURE    PREACHER.  181 

tliem.  But,  thougli  tlie  fear  of  disgrace  or  punishment, 
and  the  desire  of  a  fair  character  may  give  birth  to  a 
creditable  but  contracted  and  spurious  kind  of  honesty, 
which  is  in  nothing  of  tlie  dignity  of  virtue  ;  yet  the 
truly  honest  man,  however  low  in  circumstances,  or 
mean  in  parts,  is  one  of  virtue's  nobility. 

The  truly  honest  man  would  be  just  as  honest  with- 
oirt  law  as  with.  Guided  by  the  paramount  authority 
of  conscience,  he  neither  withholds  aught  nor  exacts 
aught  on  the  mere  plea  that  civil  law  is  on  his  side. 

The  truly  honest  is  he  who  makes  it  a  cardinal  point 
to  do  to  others  as  he  would  be  done  unto ;  and  who  de- 
cides with  justice  when  self-interest  and  justice  are  in 
opposite  scales. 

The  truly  honest  man  is  never  ostentatious  of  his 
honesty.  Ostentation  of  it  is  always  an  ill  sign;  it 
looks  like  putting  on  a  patch  to  hide  a  blemish. 

But  enough  of  definition.  One  good  example  is 
worth  a  score  of  definitions ;  and  the  following  example 
all  will  allow  to  be  a  good  one.  The  anecdote  is  given 
in  St.  Pierre's  Studies  of  Nature  : 

^^  In  the  last  war  in  Germany  a  captain  of  the  cav- 
alry was  ordered  out  on  a  foraging  party.  He  put  him- 
self at  the  head  of  his  troop,  and  marched  to  the  quar- 
ter assigned  him.  It  was  a  solitary  valley,  in  which 
hardly  anything  but  woods  could  be  seen.  In  the 
midst  of  it  stood  a  little  cottage ;  on  perceiving  it,  he 
went  up  and  knocked  at  the  door ;  there  came  out  an 
ancient    Moravian,    with    a   beard    silvered    by    age. 

*  Father,'  says  the  officer,  *  show  me  a  field  where  I  can 
set  my  troops  a  foraging.'  *  Presently,'  replied  the 
Moravian.  The  good  old  man  walked  before,  and 
conducted  them  out  of  the  valley.  After  a  quarter  of 
an   hour's   march  they  found  a  fine   field  of  barley. 

*  There  is  the  very  thing  we  want,'  says  the  captain. 

*  Have  patience  for  a  few  moments,'  replied  this  guide, 

*  and  you  shall  be  satisfied.' 

^^  They  went  on,  and  at  the  distance  of  about  a  quar- 


182        ROYAL  ROAD  TO  HAPPINESS;  OR 

ter  of  a  league  further  they  arrived  at  another  field  of 
barley.  The  troop  immediately  dismounted,  cut  down 
the  grain,  trussed  it  up,  and  remounted.  The  officer, 
upon  this,  says  to  his  conductor,  ^  Father,  you  have 
given  yourself  and  us  unnecessary  trouble ;  the  first 
field  was  much  better  than  this.'  ^  Very  true,  sir,  re- 
plied the  good  old  man,  *  but  it  is  not  mine.' " 

Such  an  example  of  honesty,  I  repeat,  is  worth  a 
score  of  definitions.  Here  we  have  not  an  abstract 
notion  of  honesty,  but  we  see  it,  as  it  were,  embodied. 
Here  we  behold  the  express  form  and  visage  of  genuine 
Christian  honesty,  acting  on  the  principle  of  loving 
one's  neighbor  as  one's  self.  And  what  though  the  ex- 
ample was  an  obscure  and  lowly  man,  distinguished 
neither  for  parts  nor  learning  ?  In  the  moral  frame  of 
his  mind  there  was  a  nobleness  of  heavenly  origin  ;  a 
nobleness  far  superior  to  eminent  natural  parts,  which 
belong  alike  Ho  the  best  and  to  the  worst  of  human 
beings. 

Compare  this  humble  Hemouten  or  Moravian  with 
the  illustrious  chieftains  who  figured  in  that  German 
war,  and  whose  bloody  deeds  are  emblazoned  on  the 
page  of  history.  Compare  his  disinterestedness  with 
their  selfishness ;  his  philanthropy  with  their  greedy 
avarice  and  fell  ambition ;  his  tender  and  scrupulous 
regard  to  the  rights  of  his  neighbor,  with  their  unfeel- 
ing spirit  of  plunder  and  rapine,  and  judge  which 
party  is  entitled  to  stand  higher  on  the  scale  of  genuine 
honor. 

One  of  the  best  of  religious  confessions  extant  -is  that 
of  Zaccheus,  a  rich  publican,  who,  probably,  had  been 
not  a  little  dishonest  and  extortionous :  ^*  Lord,  one- 
half  of  my  goods  I  give  to  the  poor,  and  if  I  have 
taken  anything  from  any  man  by  false  accusation,  I  re- 
store him  fourfold."  This  is  practical  orthodoxy.  No 
narrow  restitution  for  wrong  done  suffices  for  the 
thoroughly  honest  man.  He  will  do  all  that  justice 
requires,  and  more.     He  will  spare  his  neighbor. 


THE   PICTURE   PREACHER, 


183 


^^^■^^^ 


^^^plsiq Gratitude  or.  Ju5tice>|j^^ 
^^^m^^llC  com&  front  ct  WoLf^^^i 


THE  WOLF  AND  THE  CRANE. 


Men  shall  he  lovers  of  themselves . , .  ,  unthankful^  unholy,    ii. 

Tim.  iii.  2. An  evil  man  out  of  the  evil  treasure  of  his  heart 

bi'ingeth  forth  that  which  is  evilyfor  of  the  abundance  of  the  heart 

the  mouth  speaketh,     Luke  vi.  45. The  thoughts  of  the  wicked 

are  an  abomination  to  the  Lord.    Pro  v.  xv.  26, 


184  ROYAL   ROAD   TO   HAPPINESS;   OR 

THE  WOLF  AND  THE  CRANE. 

A  wolf,  after  devouring  "his  prey,  happened  to  have 
a  bone  stick  in  his  throat,  which  gave  him  so  much 
pain  that  he  went  howHng  up  and  down,  and  importun- 
ing every  creature  he  met,  to  lend  him  a  kind  hand  in 
order  to  his  relief;  nay,  he  promised  a  reasonable  re- 
ward to  any  one  that  should  undertake  the  operation 
with  success.  At  last,  the  crane,  tempted  with  the 
lucre  of  the  reward,  and  having  first  procured  him  to 
confirm  his  promise  with  an  oath,  undertook  the  busi- 
ness, and  ventured  his  long  neck  into  the  rapacious 
felon's  throat.  In  short,  he  plucked  out  the  bone,  and 
expected  the  promised  gratuity ;  when  the  wolf,  turn- 
ing his  eyes  disdainfully  toward  him,  said:  *'I  did  not 
think  you  had  been  so  unconscionable;  I  had  your 
head  in  my  mouth,  and  could  have  bit  it  off"  whenever 
I  pleased,  but  suffered  you  to  take  it  away  without 
any  damage,  and  yet  you  are  not  contented !''  Such  is 
the  true  wolf-like  spirit. 

Application. — Though  we  are  bound  by  the  pre- 
cepts of  our  Divine  Master  to  do  good  as  far  as  we  can 
to  all  men,  even  to  those  who  are  evil,  we  ought  not  to 
feel  much  disappointed  if  we  receive  no  thanks  from 
those  whom  we  have  benefited.  Indeed,  there  is  a  cer- 
tain class  of  persons  with  whom  we  may  come  in  contact 
by  doing  them  favors.  We  should  be  thankfid  if  we 
escape  serious  injury  by  attempting  to  do  them  good. 
It  is  quite  possible  that  the  wolf  might  think  he  was 
entitled  to  the  gratitude  of  the  crane  that  he  so  re- 
strained his  wolfish  nature  that  he  did  not  make  a  meal 
of  the  crane  after  he  had  extracted  the  bone  from  his 
throat,  owing  to  the  perversity  of  human  nature,  in- 
stead of  showing  any  gratitude  for  past  favors,  ihe  old 
saying  may  sometimes  prove  correct :  ^^  Do  a  man 
ninety-nine  favors,  and  if  you  will  not  do  him  the  one- 
hundredth,  he  will  be  the  first  man  to  throw  a  stone  at 
you." 


THE   PICTURE   rREACHER.  185 

CHILDREN   LEARNING  SELF  HELP. 

^^  Teach  your  children  to  help  themselves ^''^  is  a  practical 
maxim,  deserving  more  general  notice  than  it  ever  yet 
has  obtained,  or,  peradventm^e,  ever  will  obtain,  in 
this  scornful  and  foolish  world. 

The  highest  and  most  important  part  of  the  art  of 
teaching  is  to  train  the  yovmg  mind  to  think  for  itself, 
and  to  exercise  and  exert  its  faculties  of  judgment  and 
understanding,  as  well  as  of  memory,  for  these  facul- 
ties grow  and  increase  only  by  exercise.  The  less 
they  are  exercised  in  childhood  the  more  feeble  they 
come  to  be  in  manhood.  And  besides,  one  who  has 
been  unaccustomed  to  the  exertion  of  thought  in  the 
early  years  of  life,  commonly  lacks  all  disposition  to 
accustom  himself  to  it  afterwards,  it  being  a  kind  of 
labor  which  early  habits  makes  pleasant,  but  which 
early  neglect  renders  intolerably  irksome. 

And  as  children  should  be  learned  to  think  for  them- 
selves, or  to  exert  those  faculties  which  pertain  to  the 
mind  only,  so,  also,  should  they  be  inured  to  the  exer- 
cise of  those  mixed  faculties  that  call  forth  the  exer- 
tion of  the  body  and  mind  conjointly.  This  class  of 
exercises  is  of  more  easy  performance,  especially  in 
childhood,  than  the  other.  It  is  altogether  natural,  too, 
and  it  tends  to  give  vigor  and  alertness  alike  to  the 
mental  and  the  corporeal  frame.  If  children  be  made 
to  help  themselves  as  soon  and  as  much  as  they  are 
able,  it  wonderfully  conduces  to  the  improvement  of 
their  faculties  and  has,  at  the  same  time,  an  auspicious 
influence  upon  their  dispositions.  Whereas,  if  they  are 
accustomed  to  have  everything  done  for  them  by 
others,  that  others  can  do,  the  rust  of  sloth  and  the 
canker  of  pride  will  be  full  apt  to  spoil  whatever  of 
excellence  nature  has  bequeathed  them. 

Childhood  and  youth  are  periods  of  life  which 
materially  influence  all  its  following  periods.  Whether 
these  early  years  be  passed  in  torpid  influence,  or  iu 

24 


186  KOYAL    ROAD   TO   HAPPINESS;    OR 

well-directed  industry,  is  a  point  on  wliich  greatly 
depends  the  worth  or  the  worthlessness  of  human 
character.  What  man  or  what  woman  that  has  a  rel- 
ish for  intellectual  pleasures,  cannot  trace  that  relish 
down  to  the  days  of  childhood  ? 

Where  is  the  man  who  guides  his  affairs  with  discre- 
tion, or  the  woman  that  looketh  ^^well  to  the  ways  of 
her  household,''  and  yet  was  not,  in  some  measure,  im- 
bued with  industrious  and  provident  dispositions  in 
early  life?  On  the  other  hand,  who  that  has  been 
treated  till  the  age  of  twenty  like  a  helpless  infant, 
and  had  every  want  supplied  without  being  put  to 
either  mental  or  bodily  exertion,  was  ever  good  for 
anything  afterwards?  I  freely  admit,  indeed,  that 
there  are  some  honorable  exceptions,  but  they  are 
like  the  few  exceptions  to  a  well  established  general 
rule. 

It  is  the  misfortune  of  high  rank  and  great  wealth 
that  the  children  of  families,  so  distinguished,  are  often 
treated  as  helpless  till  they  become  so  in  reality.  They 
must  have  waiters  to  do  for  them  a  multitude  of  little 
things,  which  it  would  be  greatly  for  their  benefit  to 
do  for  themselves.  They  must  be  served  with  such 
assiduity  as  to  supersede,  almost,  the  use  of  their  own 
limbs.  They  have  feet,  but  they  walk  not;  hands 
have  they,  but  they  use  them  not,  except  for  putting 
their  food  and  drink  to  their  mouths. 

And  are  they  happy?  No :  it  is  of  the  nature  of 
this  kind  of  training  to  render  them  discontented,  peevish 
and  querulous  all  their  lives,  even  though  foiiune 
should  never  forsake  them.  And  if  they  chance  to  fall 
into  poverty  they  are  wretched  indeed — no  less  inca- 
pable than  unwilling  to  earn  a  livelihood  by  industry. 

But  the  sum  of  the  mischief  would  not  be  so  great 
if  it  were  confined  altogether  to  families  of  high  rank, 
or  great  wealth;  for  these  are  comparatively  very  few. 
It  is  the  feverish  desire  of  aping  the  stateliness  of  rank 
and  the  pomp  of  wealth,  that  occasions  the  commonness 


THE   PICTURE   PREACHER.  187 

of  this  perverted  education,  and  the  huge  mass  of 
wretchedness  which  follows  it. 

Madam ,  is  a  branch  of  what  has  been  called 

a  good  ftimily.  The  estate  is  run  out  and  she  is  poor 
and  dependent.  She  retains,  however,  some  precious 
relics  of  former  splendor.  With  these  she  feeds  her 
vanity.  Not  unfrequently  she  boasts  that  never  in  all 
her  lifetime  did  she  defile  her  hands  with  labor,  and 
she  would  swoon  at  the  thou^-ht  that  one  of  her  maiden 
daughters  should  descend  to  the  business  of  a  milliner, 
or  that  the  other  should  marry  a  substantial  tradesman. 

Mrs. has  no  rich  ancestry  or  great  connec- 
tions to  boast  of,  and  her  worldly  circumstances  are  but 
indifferent;  but  the  darling  wish  of  her  heart  is  the 
elevation  of  her  children.  Wherefore  she  moils  and 
toils  day  and  night,  gives  herself  no  rest,  impairs  her 
constitution  by  overwork,  for  the  goodly  purpose  of 
bringing  up  her  children  in  genteel  idleness,  that  so 
perchance  they  may  obtain  the  notice  of  the  hetter 
sort. 

Not  a  few,  but  numerous  are  the  instances  of  those 
who  voluntarily  encounter  dolorous  straits  and  hard- 
ships merely  through  the  instigation  of  vanity  and 
pride.  Comfortable,  if  not  happy,  might  they  be  if 
they  would  only  discard  these  foes  to  their  peace,  and 
consumers  of  their  substance.  And  what  makes  it  the 
more  strange,  these  same  persons,  in  other  respects,  are 
in  their  sober  senses,  and  some  of  them  not  only 
rational  but  agreeable ;  it  is  only  in  this  one  particular 
that  they  show  marks  of  insanity. 


SCOENFUL  PRIDE. 

The  progress  of  the  great  King  Alp  Arslan  was 
retarded  by  the  Governor  of  Berzem ;  and  Joseph,  the 
Carizman,  presumed  to  defend  his  fortress  against  the 
powers  of  the  East. 


188  ROYAL   ROAD   TO   HAPPINESS;   OR 

Wlien  he  was  produced  a  captive  in  tlie  royal  tent, 
the  Sultan,  instead  of  praising  his  valor,  severely  re- 
proached his  obstinate  folly,  when  the  insolent  replies 
of  the  rebel  provoked  a  sentence  that  he  should  be 
fastened  to  four  stakes  and  left  to  expire  in  that  painful 
situation. 

At  this  command  the  desperate  Carizman,  drawing 
a  dagger,  rushed  headlong  toward  the  throne.  Where- 
upon the  guards  raised  their  battle-axes,  when  their 
zeal  was  checked  by  Alp  Arslan,  the  most  skillful 
archer  of  the  age.  He  drew  his  bow,  but  his  foot 
slipped,  the  arrow  glanced  aside,  and  he  received  in 
his  breast  the  dagger  of  Joseph,  the  Carizman,  who 
was  instantly  cut  to  pieces. 

The  wound  was  mortal,  and  the  Turkish  Prince  be- 
queathed a  dying  admonition  to  the  pride  of  kings, 
exclaiming : 

*^  In  my  youth  I  was  advised  by  a  sage  to  humble 
myself  before  God,  to  distrust  my  own  strength,  and 
never  to  despise  the  most  contemptible  enemy.  I  have 
neglected  these  lessons ;  and  my  neglect  has  been  de- 
servedly punished. 

*'  Yesterday  from  an  eminence  I  beheld  the  multi- 
tudes, the  discipline,  the  spirit  of  my  armies.  The 
earth  seemed  to  tremble  under  my  feet,  and  I  said  in 
my  heart,  surely  thou  art  the  mo];iarch  of  the  whole 
world,  the  greatest  and  most  invincible  of  warriors. 

*^  These  armies  are  no  longer  mine  ;  and  in  the  con- 
fidence of  my  personal  strength  I  now  fall  by  the  hand 
of  an  assassin."  Upon  the  tomb  of  the  Sultan  was 
this  teacliing  inscription :  ^^  O  ye  who  have  seen  the 
glory  of  Alp  Arslan  exalted  to  the  heavens,  repair  to 
Mara,  and  you  will  behold  it  buried  in  the  dust !" 

Whether  the  above  cited  Turkish  narrative  be  mat- 
ter of  fact,  or  a  moralizing  fable,  it  is  of  interesting 
import.  It  strikingly  portrays  the  instability  of  human 
greatness.  It  teaches  impressively,  that  in  humility  is 
safety ;  that  a  haughty  spirit  goeth  before  a  fall ;  and 


THE    PICTURE    PREACHER.  189 

that  the  highest  of  mortals  are  not  so  far  exalted  above 
the  lowest,  as  to  warrant  toward  them  disdainful  feel- 
ings and  behavior. 

Of  all  the  various  modifications  of  pride,  the  most 
intolerably  disgusting  is  scornfulness  of  temper  and 
carnage.  Vanity  is  condescending  and  coiu-teous ;  it 
praises  and  flatters,  to  be  praised  and  flattered  in  re- 
turn. Affectation  always  has  the  laudable  aim  of  pleas- 
ing, though  it  always  misses  it.  Ambition  is  ofttimes 
polite,  and  *^  stoops  to  conquer."  But  scorn  has  no  cov- 
ering ;  it  is  naked  deformity,  without  a  shade,  and  with- 
out a  single  undisgusting  feature.  It  is  a  foul  stain 
upon  rank  and  wealth ;  it  is  a  loathsome  canker  in  the 
rosebud  of  beauty.  Not  only  is  it  disgusting,  but  it 
enflames  with  the  bitterest  and  most  enduring  resent- 
ment and  rage. 

The  wounds  of  scorn's  inflicting,  no  balm  can  cure, 
no  ointment  can  mollify ;  they  continue  to  ulcerate  and 
bum,  not  unfrequently  after  more  serious  injuries  are 
forgotten  or  forgiven.  It  is  easier  to  bear  a  blow  of 
the  hand,  than  a  disdainful  expression  of  the  tongue. 
Almost  any  injury  is  more  easily  got  over  than  down- 
right contempt.  The  mere  look  of  disdain  is  felt  like 
the  thrust  of  a  sword. 

A  scornful  cast  of  the  eye,  or  contemptuous  air  of 
the  countenance,  generates  a  hatred  of  the  most  des- 
perate kind  and  character.  In  very  deed,  it  is  beyond 
the  strength  of  unhallowed  human  nature  to  forgive 
those  who  scorn  us  and  treat  us  with  scorn.  It  is  not 
near  so  hard  to  return  love  for  hatred,  as  to  return  love 
for  scorn.  Nor  are  instances  uncommon  in  which  the 
scornful  are  repaid  in  their  own  coin ;  being  made  to 
8ufl*er  the  contempt  of  the  very  persons  they  have  con- 
temned. The  age  we  live  in  teems  with  instances  of 
this  sort. 

Parents  can  hardly  do  their  children  a  greater  injury 
than  by  encouraging  in  them  a  scornful  temper;  a 
temper  so  directly  repugnant  to  the  example,  the  pre- 


190  ROYAL   ROAD   TO   HAPPIT^ESS;    OR 

cepts,  and  the  whole  tenor  of  the  religion  of  our  divine 
Eedeemer;  a  temper  whose  odious  pravity,  neither 
beauty,  nor  talent,  nor  any  accomplishment  of  person 
of  splendor  of  condition  can  countervail.  And  yet, 
strange  to  tell !  there  are  parents — ^parents  professing 
a  veneration  for  tlie  Christian  religion — whose  lessons 
of  instruction  tend  to  encourage  in  their  children  a  dis- 
dainfulness of  feeling  and  carriage  toward  all  such  as 
are  anywise  behind  them  in  rank,  or  wealth,  or  personal 
accomplishments. 

Instead  of  teaching  them  humility,  gentleness,  and 
courtesy,  they  teach  them  to  practice  airs  of  disdain 
toward  such  as  are  deemed  their  inferiors,  in  however 
small  a  degree.  The  little  miss  must  hold  up  her  head, 
and  hold  it  still  higher,  if  she  has  beauty.  The  seeds 
of  scornful  pride,  thus  planted  and  watered  in  young 
minds,  take  so  deep  a  root  as  to  be  seldom  eradicated 
in  after  life.  By  the  time  they  are  full-grown  men  and 
women,  scomfulness  of  feeling  and  manner  becomes  a 
habit,  of  which,  even  the  severest  discipline  in  misfor- 
tune's school  very  seldom  mends  them. 

Nothing  is  to  be  scorned  but  vice,  and  the  proper 
scorn  of  vice  itself,  is  mingled  with  pity  for  the  vicious. 
It  is  enough  to  despise  folly  and  shun  it,  to  hate  vice, 
and  guard  ourselves,  and  warn  others,  against  it.  At 
the  same  time  we  should  not  forget  that  every  person, 
however  degraded  by  folly  and  vice,  still  claims  the 
privilege  of  a  fellow  creature,  and,  as  such,  is  more  en- 
titled to  our  compassion  than  deserving  of  our  scorn. 

One  observation  more,  and  I  shall  have  done.  Noth- 
ing so  bloats  with  scorn  a  low-bred,  shallow  mind,  as 
the  sudden  transition  from  narrow  circumstances  to 
wealth.  Mrs.  Blazon  was  reared  in  the  shade  of  hum- 
ble life.  But  the  wheel  of  fortune  that  turned  so  many 
down,  chanced  to  raise  her  aloft,  and  now  she  figures 
away  among  the  fashionables  of  the  age.  Whatever 
appears  before  her  in  Poverty's  livery,  she  disdains  at 
the  core  of  her  heart.     Her  standing  toj^ic,  whenever 


THE   PICTURE   PREACHER.  191 

she  displays  herself  to  her  company,  is  the  disgusting 
vileness  of  female  domestics.  '^  Despicable  herd  !  All 
lazy,  or  dishonest,  or  too  paltry  proud  for  the  mean- 
ness of  their  condition.  She  hath  sorted,  and  tried,  and 
shifted  them,  many  times  over,  and  she  verily  believeth 
there  is  scarcely  to  be  found  a  real  good  one  in  all  this 
^versal  warldJ^ 


THE  FOX  AND  THE  SICK  LION. 

It  was  reported  that  the  lion  was  sick,  and  the  beasts 
were  made  to  believe  that  they  could  not  make  their 
court  better  than  by  going  to  visit  him.  Upon  this, 
they  generally  went;  but  it  was  particularly  taken 
notice  of  that  the  fox  was  not  one  of  the  number. 

The  lion  therefore  dispatched  one  of  his  jackals  to 
sound  him  about  it,  and  to  ask  him  why  he  had  so  little 
charity  and  respect  as  never  to  come  near  him  at  a  time 
when  he  lay  so  dangerously  ill,  and  everybody  else  had 
been  to  see  him. 

*^  Why,"  replies  the  fox,  "  pray,  present  my  duty  to  his 
majesty,  and  tell  him  that  I  have  the  same  respect  for 
him  as  ever,  and  have  been  coming  several  times  to 
kiss  his  royal  hand;  but  I  am  so  terribly  frightened  at 
the  mouth  of  his  cave,  to  see  the  print  of  my  fellow- 
subjects'  feet,  all  pointing  forwards,  and  none  back- 
wards, that  I  have  not  resolution  enough  to  venture  in." 

Now,  the  truth  of  the  matter  was,  that  the  sickness 
of  the  lion  was  only  a  sham  to  draw  the  beasts  into  his 
den,  the  more  easily  to  devour  them. 

Application. — A  man  should  weigh  and  consider  the 
nature  of  any  proposal  well,  before  he  gives  in  to  it ; 
for  a  rash  and  hasty  compliance  has  been  the  ruin  of 
many  a  one.  And  it  is  the  quintessence  of  prudence 
not  to  be  too  easy  of  belief. 

Indeed,  the  multitude  think  altogether  in  the  same 
track,  and  are  much  upon  a  foot.     Their  meditations 


192 


KOYAL   ROAD   TO   HAPPINESS;   OR 


Walk  Circumspectly;  ^^^^^ 
6e  warned  by/yt/iers  fi^Uj^^^ 


i3S:^£::Si;ivsKi..."a«ssss!s^3et 


THE  FOX  AND  SICK  LION. 


Th^  simple  helieveth  every  word;  hut  the  prudent  man  looJceth 

well  to  his  goings.     Pro  v.  xiv.  15. The  wisdom  of  the  prudent 

is  to  understand  his  way,     Prov.  xiv.  8. A  prudent  man  fore- 

seeth  the  evil  and  hideth  himself  hut  the  simple  pass  on  and  are 

punished,    Prov.  xxii.  3. See  then  that  ye  walk  circumspectly ^ 

not  asfools^  hut  as  wise,     Eph.  v.  15. 


THE    PICTURE    PREACHER.  193 

are  confined  in  one  channel,  and  they  follow  one  an- 
other very  orderly  in  a  regular  stupidity. 

Can  a  man  of  thought  and  spirit  be  harnessed  thus, 
and  trudge  along  like  a  pack-horse,  in  a  deep,  muddy 
road,  when  he  may  frisk  it  over  the  beauteous  lawns, 
or  lose  himself  agreeably  in  the  shady,  verdant  mazes 
of  unrestrained  contemplation  I     It  is  impossible. 

Vulgar  notions  are  so  generally  attended  with  error, 
that  wherever  one  traces  the  footsteps  of  the  many 
tending  all  one  way,  it  is  enough  to  make  one  suspect, 
with  the  fox  in  the  fable,  that  there  is  some  trick  in  it. 
The  eye  of  reason  is  dulled  and  stupefied,  when  it  is 
confined  and  made  to  gaze  continually  upon  the  same 
thing ;  it  rather  chooses  to  look  about  it,  and  amuse 
itself  with  a  variety  of  objects,  as  tliey  lie  scattered  up 
and  down  in  the  unbounded  prospect. 

He  that  goes  implicitly  upon  a  thing  may  be  mis- 
taken, notwithstanding  the  number  of  those  who  keep 
him  company ;  but  he  that  keeps  out  till  he  sees  reason 
to  enter,  acts  *  upon  true  maxims  of  policy  and  pru- 
dence. 

THE  IMPORTANCE  OF  LEARNING  TO  SAY  NO  1 

Avery  wise  and  excellent  mother  gave  the  following 
advice  with  her  dying  breath — '^  My  son,  learn  to  say 
No."  Nor  did  she  mean  to  counsel  her  son  to  l^  a 
fchurl  in  speech,  or  to  be  stiff-hearted  in  things  indiffer- 
ent or  trivial,  and  much  less  did  she  counsel  him  to  put 
his  negative  upon  the  calls  of  charity  or  humanity; 
but  her  meaning  was,  that,  along  with  gentleness  of 
manners  and  benevolence  of  disposition,  he  should 
possess  an  inflexible  firmness  of  purpose — a  quality 
beyond  all  price. 

In  the  affixed  engraving  we  see  a  young  man  solic- 
ited to  join  some  of  his  acquaintances  in  a  sailing  ex- 
cursion ontlie  day  appointed  for  public  worship. 
Perhaps  he  may  see  not  much  evil  in  it,  but  as  his 

9 


IMPORTANCE  OF  LEARNING  TO  SAY  NO. 


My  son,  if  sinners  entice  thee,  consent  thou  not     Pro  v.  i.  10. 

My  son,  walk  thou  not  in  the  way  with  tliemj  refrain  thy  foot 

from  their  path,     Prov.  i.  15. But  he  refused, how  then 

ean  1  do  this  great  wickedness,  and  sin  against  God?  Gen.  xxxix. 

8,  9. Jiesist  the  devil  and  he  will  flee  from  you.     James  iv.  7, 

Save  no  fellowship  with  the  unfruitful  works  of  darkness,  but 
rather  reprove  them.     Eph.  v.  11.- 


THE    PICTUEE    PREACHER.  195 

parents  had  taught  him  to  say  No  to  all  such  applica- 
tions, he  felt  himself  bound  by  every  religious  and 
moral  sentiment  to  honor  them  by  obedience  to  their 
wishes.  There  is  every  reason  to  believe  he  has  saved 
himself  a  vast  amount  of  misery  by  having  the  courage 
and  firm  resolution  to  say  the  short  word  No. 

Persons  so  infirm  of  purpose,  so  wanting  in  resolu- 
tion as  to  be  incapable,  in  almost  any  case,  of  saying 
no,  are  among  the  most  hapless  of  human  beings ;  and 
that,  notwithstanding  their  sweetness  of  temper,  their 
courteous  demeanor,  and  whatever  else  of  amiable 
and  estimable  qualities  they  possess.  Though  they  see 
the  right,  they  pursue  the  wrong ;  not  so  much  out  of 
inclination,  as  from  a  frame  of  mind  disposed  to  yield 
to  every  solicitation. 

It  is  owing  to  the  want  of  resolution,  more  than  the 
want  of  sound  sense,  that  a  great  many  persons  have 
run  into  imprudences,  injurious,  and  sometimes  fatal,  to 
their  worldly  interests.  Numerous  instances  of  this 
might  be  named,  but  I  shall  content  myself  by  naming 
only  one — that  is  rash  and  hazardous  suretyship.  The 
pit  stands  uncovered,  and  yet  men  of  good  sense 
plunge  themselves  into  it,  with  their  eyes  wide  open. 
Notwithstanding  the  solemn  warnings  in  the  proverb 
of  the  wise  man,  and  notwithstanding  the  fate  of  so 
many  that  have  gone  before  them,  they  make  the  haz- 
ardous leap.  And  why?  Not  from  inclination,  or 
with  a  willing  mind,  but  being  solicited,  urged  and  en- 
treated, they  know  not  how  to  say  No.  Had  they  but 
said  it,  it  might  have  saved  themselves,  their  wives  and 
children  from  worldly  ruin. 

But  the  worst  of  it  is  still  behind.  The  ruin  of  char- 
acter, of  morals,  and  of  the  very  heart  and  soul,  orig- 
inates oft  in  a  passive  yieldingness  of  temper  and 
disposition,  or  in  the  want  of  the  resolution  to  say  No. 
Thousands  and  many  thousands  through  this  weak- 
ness, have  been  the  victims  of  deceit.  Thousands  and 
many  thousands,  once  of  fair  promise,  but  now  sunk  in 


196        EOYAL  ROAD  TO  HAPPINESS;  OR 

depravity  and  wretchedness,  owe  their  niin  to  the  act 
of  consenting,  against  their  better  judgment,  to  the  en- 
ticements of  evil  companions  and  familiars.  Had  they 
said  no,  when  duty,  when  honor,  when  conscience, 
when  everything  sacred  demanded  it  of  them — happy 
might  they  now  have  been — the  solace  of  their  kindred 
and  the  ornaments  of  society. 

Sweetness  of  temper,  charitableness  of  heart,  gentle- 
ness of  demeanor,  together  with  a  strong  disposition  to 
act  obligingly,  and  even  to  be  yielding  in  things  indif- 
ferent or  of  trifling  moment — are  amiable  and  estimable 
traits  of  the  human  character ;  but  there  must  be  withal, 
and  the  ground  work  of  the  whole,  such  a  firmness  of 
resolution  as  will  guarantee  against  yielding,  either 
imprudently  or  immorally  to  solicitations  and  entice- 
ments. Else  one  has  a  very  small  chance  in  passing 
down  the  current  of  life,  of  escaping  the  eddies  and 
quicksands  that  lie  in  his  way. 

It  is  said  that  stiff  tempers  in  children  are  of  better 
omen  than  generally  they  are  thought  to  be.  Such 
tempers,  properly  managed  and  rightly  directed,  are 
the  most  likely  to  form  characters  of  fixed  and  immov- 
able resolution — the  least  liable  to  be  bent  by  circum- 
stances, by  threats,  or  by  persuasions  from  the  line  of 
prudence  and  duty. 


FAMILY   GOVERNMENT. 

As  nothing  more  indicates  the  weakness  of  a  legisla- 
ture than  a  strong  propensity  to  multiply  laws  beyond 
what  real  and  absolute  need  requires  ;  so  also  is  it  in 
regard  to  domestic  government.  In  families,  as  well  as 
in  larger  communities,  there  often  is  too  much  law. 

A  few  rules  are  necessary  for  the  government  of 
children,  and  but  few.  These  should  be  too  plain  to 
be  misunderstood ;  too  reasonable  to  admit  of  any  dis- 
pute or  doubt ;  and  too  important  to  be  violated  or 


THE    PICTURE    PREACHER  197 

neglected.  They  should  be  engraven  early  upon  the 
memories  of  the  children,  and  enforced  when  need  re- 
quires, with  steady  and  inflexible  firmness ;  and  by  and 
by  they  will  grow  into  habits.  Submission  and  obe- 
dience will  become  natural  and  spontaneous. 

Children  managed  in  this  manner  from  infancy,  and 
by  parents,  too,  whose  examples  comport  with  rules 
and  injunctions,  and  exercise  of  authority  carries  along 
with  it  evident  marks  of  tender  affection;  children 
reared  up  under  this  steady,  mild,  and  yet  firai  disci- 
pline, soon  become  tractable,  except  in  extraordinary 
instances  of  perverseness. 

They  feel  the  yoke  to  be  easy,  and  are  withheld  from 
acts  of  disobedience, -more  out  of  filial  love  and  respect 
than  from  fear. 

Hence  it  is,  that  in  some  houses  family  government 
goes  on  with  singular  regularity,  though  so  silent  as  to 
be  scarcely  perceived.  There  is  no  violent  scolding  ; 
no  boisterous  threats ;  no  fierce  looks.  Both  the  father 
and  mother  are  so  even  in  temper  and  behavior,  that 
they  seem  scarcely  to  display  any  authority  at  all ;  and 
yet  the  children  are  orderly,  submissive,  and  dutiful,  in 
a  very  high  degree,  A  single  word,  or  a  mere  glance 
of  the  eye,  from  either  parent,  they  mind  more  than 
some  children  do  the  pelting  of  hard  blows. 

Neither  is  it  the  only  advantage  of  this  method  of 
family  government  that  it  accomplishes  its  object  the 
most  effectually,  and  with  the  least  trouble ;  there  is 
another  of  equal,  if  not  of  greater  moment 

Children  thus  managed  are  led  to  delight  in  the  com- 
pany and  conversation  of  their  parents,  and  to  receive 
counsel  readily  from  their  lips ;  and  when  they  come 
of  age  to  act  for  themselves,  the  transition  from  the 
state  of  subjection  to  that  of  personal  independence  ia 
easy  and  scarcely  perceivable.  They  don't  feel  like 
emancipated  slaves.  They  are  not  intoxicated  with 
liberty,  but  enjoy  it  soberly  ;  still  looking  back,  with 
mixed  emotions  of  respect  and  love  to  the  salutary  dis- 


198        ROYAL  ROAD  TO  HAPPINESS;  OR 

cipline  they  had  been  under,  and  still  accustoming 
themselves  to  consult  their  parents,  and  to  receive  their 
advice  with  deference. 

Nothing  indeed  is  more  clear,  than  that  the  simplest 
government  is  the  best  for  children  ;  and  yet  this  plain 
matter  of  fact  is  often  overlooked,  and  that,  too,  by 
some  of  excellent  minds  and  hearts. 

Many  parents  of  good  sense  and  great  moral  worth, 
fearful  of  failing  in  their  duty  by  not  governing 
enough,  run  into  the  opposite  extreme.  They  maintain 
a  reservedness,  a  distance,  a  stateliness  toward  their 
children,  who  hardly  dare  to  speak  in  their  presence, 
and  much  less  to  manifest  before  them  any  symptoms 
of  the  gaycty  of  their  youthful  hearts. 

They  encumber  them  with  a  multitude  of  regula- 
tions ;  they  tire  them  with  long  lessons  of  stem  moni- 
tion ;  they  disgust  and  alienate  them  with  a  super- 
abundance of  sharp  reproof;  they  treat  their  little 
levities  as  if  they  were  heinous  crimes.  Instead  of 
drawing  them  **with  the  cords  of  love,"  they  bind  them 
fast  with  cords  that  are  galling  and  painful. 

This  mistaken,  though  well-intentioned  manner  of 
family  government,  is  very  apt  to  draw  after  it  several 
unhappy  consequences.  Children  so  brought  up,  how 
much  soever  fear  their  parents,  do  rarely  love  them 
very  much.  However  much  they  respect  their  virtues, 
they  seldom  yield  them  the  warm  affections  of  their 
hearts.  Of  some  it  breaks  the  spirits  and  renders  them 
unenterprising,  tame  and  servile  in  all  the  succeeding 
periods  of  their  lives. 

Others,  who  have  native  energy  of  mind  and  stiff- 
ness of  heart,  it  makes  exceedingly  restless ;  and  when- 
ever these  can  get  aside  from  parental  inspection,  they 
are  particularly  rude  and  extravagant  in  their  conduct. 
With  longing  eyes  they  look  forward  to  the  day  of 
emancipation  from  parental  authority  as  to  a  jubilee ; 
and  when  the  wished  for  time  has  come,  they  are  like 
calves  let  loose  from  their  stalls      The  transition  is  so 


THE    PICTURE    PREACHER.  199 

great  and  so  sudden  that  it  wilders  them ;  and  it  often 
happens  that  their  ruin  is  involved  in  the  first  use  of 
their  freedom. 

They  are  wide  of  the  true  mark  in  family  govern- 
ment who  make  a  mighty  bustle  about  it.  In  their 
laudable  attempts  to  excel  in  that  way,  they  spoil  all  by 
overdoing. 


YIELD  A  LITTLE  IN  SMALL  MATTERS. 

In  the  lower  part  of  the  accompanying  engraving  is 
placed  the  motto  or  precept,  **  The  path  of  duty  is  the 
path  of  safety."  This  is  an  all-important  principle  or 
guide  in  whatever  circumstances  we  may  be  placed. 
The  consequences  of  acceptance  or  rejection  of  this 
precept  are  exhibited :  On  the  first  side  a  mother  is 
seen  leading  and  guiding  a  child  upw^ard  on  the  path  of 
life  and  immortality  to  heavenly  mansions  above ;  on 
the  opposite  side  is  seen  the  consequences  of  disregard- 
ing the  precept.  They  who  despise  and  violate  the 
laws  of  God  and  man  are  of  the  number  *^  who  are 
wise  above  that  which  is  written,"  nuisances  in  the 
kingdom  of  God.  Sooner  or  later  storms  and  tempests 
will  cross  their  pathway,  they  become  moral  wrecks, 
and  perish  in  the  dark,  rolling  waters. 

In  the  crowded  streets  of  a  great  city,  where  multi- 
tudes are  passing  in  opposite  directions,  each  must 
yield  a  little  in  order  to  give  others  a  free  passage.  If 
a  churlish  individual  should  take  into  his  head  to  do 
otherwise  and  jostle  against  others,  he  would  soon  en- 
counter hard  words  and  perhaps  hard  blows  for  his 
obstinacy  and  impudence. 

And  considerably  so  it  is  in  our  journey  through  life, 
and  with  respect  to  our  general  intercourse  with  man- 
kind. **  In  the  march  of  life  no  one^s  path  lies  so  clear 
as  not  in  some  degree  to  cross  another's ;  and  if  each  is 
determined,  with   unyielding   sturdiness,  to  keep  his 


200  ROY  AX    ROAD    TO    HAPPINESS;    OR 

own  line,  it  is  impossible  but  he  must  both  give  and 
receive  many  a  rude  shock."  In  society,  in  neighbor- 
hoods, and  even  among  close  friends,  there  will  spring 
up  rivalries  and  be  sometimes  a  clashing  of  opinion,  and 
if  all  were  mutually  obstinate  there  could  be  no  bounds 
nor  end  to  contention.  Whereas  by  the  exercise  of 
mutual  condescension,  social  harlnony  is  preserved  and 
the  pleasures  of  society  enjoyed. 

The  exercise  of  condescension  is  ranked  among  the 
precepts  of  the  gospel,  and  is  enjoined  as  a  duty  upon 
Christians,  who  are  expressly  told  from  divine  author- 
ity to  be  patient  toward  all  men — to  be  courteous. 
Hence  it  follows,  that  the  extremely  obstinate  man  who 
will  not  yield  an  ace  in  matters  of  interest  or  opinion, 
but  runs  fou^  of  every  one  that  chances  to  cross  his 
path,  does  really  transgress  the  rules  of  the  gospel,  as 
well  as  those  of  decorum. 

Here  let  me  not  be  misunderstood.  Condescension 
has  its  bounds  and  those  bounds  are  strongly  marked. 
One  should  never  yield  opinions,  much  less  principles, 
that  are  of  great  and  serious  importance.  One  should 
never  sacrifice  conscience  to  please  friends,  or  for  fear 
of  foes.  One  should  never  ^'follow  a  multitude  to  do 
evil."  One  should  never  suffer  himself  to  be  conformed 
to  the  world  in  vicious  practices  and  customs,  or  in 
fashions  which,  though  innocent  in  themselves,  are  too 
expensive  for  him  to  follow.  One  should  never  yield 
anything  to  importunity,  which  self-justice  forbids  him 
to  yield  at  all.  In  these  points  the  person  who  would 
go  through  the  journey  of  life  well,  must  be  finn  and 
inflexible. 

But  in  matters  of  indifference,  or  of  no  serious  con- 
sequence, whether  respecting  opinion  or  interest,  a 
yielding,  accommodating  spirit  is  not  only  desirable, 
but  a  moral  and  Christian  duty.  And  even  in  points 
which  are  not  to  be  yielded,  one  should  maintain  firm- 
ness in  such  a  manner,  if  possible,  as  to  make  it  evident 
that  he  acts  from  principle  rather  than  from  obstinacy. 


THE    PICTURE    PREACHER.  201 

THE   BEGGAR'S  FUNERAL. 

It  IS  stated  that  *^  There  was  a  certain  rich  man  who 
was  clothed  in  fine  hnen,  and  fared  sumptuously  every 
day.  And  there  was  a  certain  beggar,  named  Laza- 
rus, which  was  laid  at  his  gate  full  of  sores,  and  desir- 
ing to  be  fed  with  crumbs  which  fell  from  the  rich 
man's  table;  moreover,  the  dogs  came  and  licked  his 
sores.  And  it  came  to  pass  that  the  beggar  died  and 
was  carried  by  the  angels  into  Abraham's  bosom." 

Lazarus  not  only  was  very  poor,  but  afflicted  by  a 
painful  disorder  which  rendered  him  unable  to  labor 
for  a  living,  and  he  was  obliged  to  subsist  on  the  char- 
ity of  others.  He  was  laid  at  the  rich  man's  gate,  or 
the  door  of  his  residence,  to  obtain,  at  least,  a  dog's 
portion  of  the  crumbs  or  broken  victuals  which  fell 
from  the  rich  man's  table.  The  rich  man  probably  felt 
himself  to  be  of  a  superior  class  to  most  of  his  fellow- 
beings  whom  he  saw  about  him.  The  poor  and  suf- 
fering man  at  his  door,  being  a  pauper  and  a  common 
beggar,  was  perhaps  thought  not  worthy  of  any  par- 
ticular notice.  It  does  not  appear,  from  the  narrative, 
that  he  even  looked  at  him,  he  being  somewhat  of  a 
disgusting  object  in  his  outward  appearance. 

It  is  quite  possible  that  the  rich  man  mentioned  in 
the  account  of  Lazarus  might,  out  of  his  regard  to  his 
name  among  men,  have  occasionally  from  his  ample 
stores  given  something  to  the  poor,  as  it  were,  the 
crumbs  from  his  luxurious  table.  But  as  to  the  love  of 
God  and  the  love  of  his  neighbors  as  himself,  as  is 
required  by  the  Divine  law,  it  did  not  appear  in  his 
conduct. 

But  God  seeth  not  as  man  seeth.  It  is  to  be  re- 
marked that,  however  honorable  the  rich  man  might 
believe  himself  in  his  own  -or  in  others'  estimation,  he 
was  not  deemed  worthy  of  a  name  in  the  book  of  God. 
This  honor  was  conferred  upon  a  pauper — a  poor,  dis- 
eased beggar  that  laid  at  his  gate.     *^His  name,"  says 


THE  BEGGAR'S  FUNERAL. 


And  it  came  to  pass  that  the  beggar  died^  and  was  carried  by 

the  angels  into  Abraham''s  bosom.     Luke  xvi.  22. Are  they  not 

all  ministering  spirits,  sent  forth  to  minister  for  them  who  shallbe 

heirs  of  salvation?     Heb.  i  14. Lord  remember  me  when  thou 

comest  into  thy  kingdom,     Jesus  saidunto  him  ....  To-day  shalt 

thou  be  with  me  in  Paradise,     Luke  xxiii.  42,  43. He  raiseth 

up  the  poor  out  of  the  dust.    Psa.  cxiii.  7. So  shall  we  ever  be 

with  the  Lord,    L  Thess.  iv.  17. 


THE    PICTUEE    PKEACHER.  203 

a  learned  cominentator,  *^is  derived  from  a  word  signi- 
fying help  or  assistance  from  God."  A  name  properly 
given  to  one  whose  character  was  good  and  who  had 
no  help  but  what  came  from  God ;  and  fm'thermore, 
because  it-  is  the  purpose  of  God  that  the  righteous 
shall  be  held  in  everlasting  remembrance. 

It  may  be  mentioned  in  connection  with  this  subject 
that  the  rich  man  lost  the  golden  opportunity  when  he 
neglected  to  treat  Lazarus  as  a  neighbor  and  brother ; 
to  receive  a  royal  guest  into  his  house  who  was,  to 
human  appearance,  but  a  poor,  diseased  beggar,  but  in 
reahty  a  royal  prince,  '^an  heir  of  God,  and  joint  heir 
of  Jesus  Christ," — in  fact,  an  heir  of  everlasting  glory, 
and  heir  of  all  things,  in  alliance  with  the  Eternal 
Father,  the  Lord  of  Lords  and  God  of  Gods. 

The  engraving  prefixed  to  this  article  is  designed  to 
be  what  may,  in  some  sense,  termed  the  ^^  Beggar's 
Funeral,"  showing  what  took  place  immediately  after 
the  soul  of  Lazarus  had  left  his  body.  A  group  of 
angels  are  seen  taking  him,  in  the  higher  sense,  to  his 
long  home,  to  rest  in  Abraham's  bosom,  which  signifies 
a  place  of  happiness,  or  Paradise  of  God.  The  con- 
voy of  angels  are  bearing  the  beggar  upward.  One  of 
their  number  is  acting  as  a  courier  to  announce  in  the 
heavenly  regions,  the  coming  of  a  brother  of  their 
Divine  Lord  and  Master.  The  courier  holds  in  one 
hand  the  palm  of  victory  ;  in  the  other  the  cross,  show- 
ing by  what  means  the  triumph  was  effected.  Two  of 
the  dogs  who  were  with  Lazarus  at  the  rich  man's  gate 
are  seen  in  the  lower  part  of  the  picture ;  they  appear 
to  be  in  a  thoughtful  mood,  and  ready  to  render  the 
beggar  any  further  relief  by  licking  his  sores. 

They  understand  by  the  hat,  crutches,  and  rags  left 
behind,  that  their  companion  has  gone  or  been  taken 
off  by  somebody :  to  what  place  they  cannot  under- 
stand. If  Lazarus  left  any  mourners  behind  him  these 
two  dogs  were  certainly  of  the  number.  Their  fidelity 
exceeded  man's  humanity. 


204 


ROYAL   ROAD   TO   HAPPINESS:   OR 


DEBTS,  OR  THE  OVERLOADED  MULE. 


The  wicked  horroweth  and  payeth  not  again,     Ps.  xxxvii.  21 

The  getting  of  treasures  by  a  lying  tongue  is  a  vanity  tossed 

to  and  fro  of  them  that  seek  death,     Prov.  xxi.  6. Your  feet 

shall  stumble  upon  the  dark  mountains Jer.  xiiL  16. 

A  people  laden  loith  iniquity.     Isa.  i.  4. Destruction  shall  come 

upon  all  the  workers  of  iniquity.     Prov.  x.  29. If  any  man 

love  the  worlds  the  love  of  the  Father  is  not  in  him,     L  John  i.  15. 

The  lust  of  the  eyes  ....  and  the  pride  of  life  is  not  of  the 

Father  but  is  of  the  world,    I.  John  ii.  15,  16. 


THE   PICTURE    PREACHER.  205 

DEBT,   OR  THE   OVERLOADED   MULE. 

The  engra\dng'  shows  an  overloaded  mule  stumbling' 
along  on  an  elevated  bank.  He  represents  a  man  who 
is  deeply  in  debt  and  made  miserable  by  a  heavy  load 
of  broken  promises  and  unfulfilled  contracts.  In  his 
terrible  distress  he  has  made  false  statements  respecting 
his  affairs  and  finally  is  guilty  of  fraud.  The  alligator, 
or  crocodile — the  emblem  of  fraud — has  crawled  up  on 
the  mule's  back.  This  additional  burden  throws  the 
poor  creature  over  the  bank  where  he  perishes  in  the 
depths  below.  Such  is  the  fate  of  many  whom  debt 
leads  into  wrong  doing. 

^'  Of  what  a  hideous  progeny  of  ill,"  says  Douglas 
Jerrold,  *^  is  debt  the  father !  What  meanness,  what 
invasions  of  self-respect,  what  cares,  what  double  deal- 
ing. How,  in  due  season,  it  will  carve  the  frank,  open 
face,  into  wrinkles,  how  like  a  knife  it  will  stab  the 
honest  heart.  A  freedom  from  debt,  and  then  how  rel- 
ishing a  dry  crust,  a  boiled  eggy  and  a  drink  of  pure 
cold  water.  What  satisfaction  in  old  clothes  if  the 
tailor's  receipt  be  in  your  pocket,  and  in  an  old  hat  if 
it  covers  not  the  aching  head  of  a  debtor !  Freedom 
from  debt  makes  the  home  sweet  and  the  skies  of 
heaven  to  cheer  one^s  heart. 

If  possible  no  one  should  run  in  debt  for  food  and 
clothing.  The  neglect  of  this  causes  great  misery. 
We  see  people  living  on  credit,  putting  off  payment  to 
the  last,  making  in  the  end  some  desperate  efforts  by 
begging  or  borrowing  to  scrape  money  together,  and 
then  struggling  on  with  the  canker  eating  at  their 
vitals  to  the  almost  inevitable  goal  of  bankruptcy. 
The  great  secret  of  being  solvent  and  well-to-do,  is  to 
get  ahead  of  your  expenses.  Eat  and  drink  what  you 
earned  the  last  month. 

The  proverb  says  "an  empty  bag  cannot  stand 
upright;"  nor  can  a  man  who  is  in  debt.  It  lowers 
his  self  respect  and  makes  him  a  slave  in  many  re- 


206        ROYAL  ROAD  TO  HAPPINESS;  OB 

spects,  for  he  can  no  longer  call  himself  his  own  mas- 
ter, or  boldly  look  the  world  in  the  face.  **0f  what  a 
hideous  progeny  of  ill,"  says  a  celebrated  writer,  *4s 
debt  the  father!  What  meanness,  what  invasions  of 
self-respect,  what  cares!  What  double  dealing!  Debt 
that  puts  terror  in  the  door-bell;  that  quakes  at  the 
liand- writing  of  an  attorney.  Debt,  the  invisible  demon, 
that  walks  with  a  man,  now  quickening  his  steps,  now 
making  him  look  on  all  sides  like  a  hunted  beast,  now 
bringing  to  his  face  the  ashy  hue  of  death,  as  the 
imconscious  passenger  looks  glancingly  upon  him!" 

^^Of  all  the  safeguards  that  young  men  can  provide 
themselves  with  we  know  of  none  that  is  a  better  safe- 
guard against  many  troubles  than  a  rule  firmly  laid 
down  and  resolutely  adhered  to,  never  to  go  into  debt. 
It  will  require  no  small  amount  of  courage  to  live  up 
to  it,  but  in  the  end  the  result  will  compensate  for  all 
troubles  and  sacrifices.  The  rule  will  bring  its  own 
reward.  It  is  one  of  the  easiest  things  in  the  w^orld  to 
get  in  debt.  It  is  one  of  the  hardest  things  to  get  out 
after  once  getting  in;  and  it  is  a  task  of  no  small  diffi- 
culty to  keep  out." 


PRUDENCE  IN  COMMON  LIFE. 

Prudence,  the  inmate  of  wisdom,  is  not  niggardly 
saving  disposition,  which  appropriates  everything 
to  itself,  withholds  bread  from  the  hungry — the 
worldly  spirit,  that  makes  all  its  calculations  with  the 
sole  view  to  present  loss  and  gain — not  the  jealous 
temper  that  keeps,  by  day  and  night,  a  cat-like  watch, 
and  dares  trust  nobody — not  the  slyness  that  habitually 
prefers  stratagem  to  openness  of  conduct — not  the  cow- 
ardice that  shrinks  from  the  responsibility,  or  the  danger 
to  which  duty  calls.  Though  by  a  moral  abuse  of 
words,  these  severally  have  been  dignified  by  the  name 
of  Prudence,  they  are  very  unlike  that  genuine  pru- 
dence, with  which  wisdom  deigns  to  dwell. 


THE*  PICTURE   PREACHER. 


207 


PKUDENCE  IN  COMMON  LIFE. 


I  wisdom  dwell  with  prudence,  Prov.  viii.  1 2. A  prudent  m  an 

foreseeth  the  evil  andhideth  himself,    Prov.  xxvii.  12. Thepru* 

dent  man  looketh  well  to  his  going.     Prov.  xiv.  15. A  soft  an^ 

8wer  turneth  away  wrath,     Prov.  xv,  1. JS^ot  rendering  evil  for 

evil,  nor  railing  for  railing,  hut  contrariwise  blessing,     I.  Pet.  iii.  9. 

If  it  be  possible,  as  much  as  lieth  in  you  live  peaceably  with 

all  men,    Kom.  xiL  18. 


208  ROYAL    ROAD    TO    HAPPIl^fESS;    OR 

Prudence  of  the  right  stamp  is  the  practical  exposi 
tion  both  of  a  correct  judgment  and  a  correct  heart.  It 
regards  the  future  as  well  as  the  present ;  immortality 
as  well  as  time;  and  each  according  to  their  respective 
importance.  It  seeks  the  attainment  of  worthy  objects 
by  worthy  and  suitable  means.  It  keeps  the  end  in 
view,  and  the  means  it  properly  adapts  to  the  end.  It 
shuns  the  evil  that  is  avoidable,  and  what  is  unavoid- 
able it  meets  with  resignation  and  firmness. 

Prudence  consists  of  soundness  of  judgment,  to- 
gether with  firmness  of  resolution  to  follow  the  dictates 
of  judgment.  For  want  of  such  firm  resolution  many 
act  absurdly,  though  they  speculate  wisely;  being 
drawn  astray,  contrary  to  their  better  knowledge,  by 
indolence,  by  timidity,  by  ungovemed  passion,  or  by 
their  propensities  to  particular  vices. 

Some  peculiar  circumstances  have  been  the  cause  of 
imbuing  whole  populations  with  remarkable  prudence, 
continuing  for  many  centuries.  The  inhabitants  of 
Holland  living  in  continual  danger  of  inundation  from 
the  ocean,  by  which  they  would  not  only  lose  the  fruits 
of  their  industry,  but  their  lives,  have  become  habit- 
ually prudent. 

The  engraving  shows  part  of  a  dyke  between  Am- 
sterdam and  Rotterdam.  It  is  from  a  drawing  taken  in 
1853  by  the  compiler  of  this  work,  when  on  a  tour  in 
Europe. 

These  dykes  prevent  the  country  from  being  over- 
whelmed by  the  sea.  These  banks  were  began  on  a 
small  scale,  and  by  degrees  grew  into  enormous  struct- 
ures, reclaiming  vast  tracts  of  the  richest  soil  from 
inundation. 

Formerly  on  the  occasion  of  great  storms  many  of 
them  were  swept  away  by  the  tremendous  power  of 
the  ocean  in  a  single  hour.  But  with  their  cnaracter- 
istic  perseverance  the  Hollanders  have  finally  suc- 
ceeded in  rescuing  their  country  from  all  danger. 

These  dykes  sometimes  rise  to  the  height  of  forty  feet 


THE    PICTURE    PREACHER.  209 

above  high  water  mark.  The  base  is  very  broad,  from 
whence  the  sides  slope  upward ;  but  leaving  sufficient 
width  on  top  for  two  carriages  to  go  abreast. 

In  the  engraving  is  seen  one  of  the  numerous  canals 
by  which  tlie  entire  country  is  intersected.  A  house 
is  seen  in  the  distance,  which  stands  on  the  same  level 
with  the  cities  of  Amsterdam  and  Rotterdam,  on  land 
which  has  been  rescued  from  the  ocean. 

One  of  the  dictates  of  Prudence  in  common  life  is  to 
avoid  incurring  enmities,  so  far  as  can  be  done  consist- 
ently with  uprightness  of  character  and  a  good  con- 
science. It  appears  that  the  celebrated  Dr.  Franklin, 
when  a  young  man,  was  chosen  Clerk  of  the  General 
Assembly  of  Pennsylvania.  The  choice  was  annual, 
and  in  the  year  following  a  new  member  made  a  long 
speech  in  opposition  to  him.  The  Doctor,  in  his  Memoirs, 
thus  discloses  the  shrewd  expedient  he  adopted  to  win 
his  good  will : 

^^  As  the  place  was  highly  desirable  for  me  on  many 
accounts,  I  did  not  like  the  opposition  of  this  new 
member,  who  was  a  gentleman  of  fortune  and  educa- 
tion, with  talents  that  were  likely  to  give  him  in  time 
great  influence  in  the  House,  which  indeed  afterwards 
happened.  I  did  not,  liowever,  aim  at  gaining  his  favor 
by  paying  any  servile  respect  to  him,  but  after  some 
time  took  this  other  method.  Having  heard  that  he 
had  in  his  library  a  certain  very  scarce  and  curious 
book,  I  wrote  a  note  to  him,  expressing  my  desire  of 
perusing  that  book,  and  requesting  that  he  would  do 
me  the  favor  of  lending  it  to  me  for  a  few  days.  He 
sent  it  immediately ;  and  I  returned  it  in  about  a  week 
with  another  note,  expressing  strongly  my  sense  of  the 
favor.  When  we  next  met  in  the  House  he  spoke  to 
me  (which  he  had  never  done  before),  and  with  great 
civility ;  and  he  ever  after  manifested  a  readiness  to 
serve  me  on  all  occasions,  so  that  we  became  great 
friends,  and  our  friendship  continued  to  his  death. 

"This  is  another  instance  of  the  truth  of  an  old 


210  ROYAL    ROAD    TO    HAPPINESS;    OR 

maxim  that  I  had  learned,  which  says :  '  He  that  has 
once  done  you  a  kindness,  will  be  more  ready  to  do 
you  another,  than  he  whom  you  yourself  have  obliged.' 
And  it  shows  how  much  more  profitable  it  is  prudently 
to  remove,  than  to  resent,  return  and  continue  inimical 
proceedings.'^ 

THE  FLYma  FISH. 

The  flying-fish  is  a  fish  which  has  fins  so  elongated 
that  they  answer  the  purpose  of  wings,  so  that  on  ris- 
ing from  the  water  it  can  sustain  itself  in  the  air  for 
some  time.  The  fable  from  heathen  mythology  states 
that  the  flying-fish  was  originally  without  wings,  and 
being  of  a  discontented  temper  she  repined  as  being 
always  confined  to  the  water,  and  w^ished  to  soar  into 
the  air.  *'If  I  could  fly  like  the  birds,"  said  she,  *^I 
should  see  more  of  the  beauties  of  nature,  and  escape 
from  those  fish  which  often  pursue  me  and  render  my 
life  miserable."  She  therefore  petitioned  Jupiter  for  a 
pair  of  wings,  and  immediately  she  perceived  her  fins 
to  expand.  They  suddenly  grew  to  the  length  of  her 
whole  body,  and  became  at  the  same  time  so  strong 
that  they  answered  all  the  purposes  of  wings.  For  a 
time  she  was  much  pleased  w^ith  her  new  powers,  and 
looked  with  an  air  of  disdain  on  all  her  former  com- 
panions. 

For  a  short  time  things  appeared  to  go  on  well,  but 
after  a  while  she  became  dissatisfied  with  her  new  sit- 
uation. When  flying  in  the  air  she  was  incessantly 
pursued  by  the  albatross  and  other  birds,  and  when, 
for  safety,  she  dropped  into  the  water,  she  was  so 
fatigued  with  her  flight  that  she  was  less  able  than  ever 
to  escape  from  her  old  enemies  among  the  fish.  Find- 
ing herself  more  unhappy  than  before,  she  now  begged 
of  Jupiter  to  recall  his  gift,  but  Jupiter  said  to  her — 
*^When  I  gave  you  wings  I  well  knew  it  would  prove 
a  curse,  but  your  proud  and  restless  disposition  deserved 


THE   PICTURE   PREACHER. 


211 


THE  FLYING  FISH. 


Te  Jcnow  not  what  ye  ask,    Mark  x.  38.- 
ye  may  consume  it  upon  your  lusts,     James  iv.  3. 


Ye  ash that 

■Let  your  con* 


versation  be  without  covetousnesSy  and  be  content  with  such  things 

as  ye  have,     Heb,  xiii.  6. Ponder  the  path  of  thy  feet  and  let 

all  thy  ways  be  established.     Pro  v.  iv.  26. Be  no  more  children 

tossed  to  and  fro^  and  carried  about  with  every  wind  of  doctrine, 

Eph.  iv.  14. Unstable  as  water  thou  shalt  not  excel.     Gen.  xlix. 

4. Commit  thy  works  unto  the  Lord^  and  thy  thoughts  shall 

be  established,     Prov.  xvi.  3. 

9* 


212        ROYAL  ROAD  TO  HAPPINESS;  OR 

this  disappomtment    Now,  therefore,  what  you  begged 
as  a  favor  keep  as  a  punishment" 

Application. — We  learn  by  this  fable  the  evil  of 
repining  at  the  lot  or  station  in  which  Providence  has 
evidently  placed  us.  We  often  do  not  know  what  is 
best  for  us.  In  avoiding  what  we  consider  a  great 
evil  we  plunge  ourselves  into  another  much  worse. 
Therefore  we  should  endeavor  to  submit  ourselves  to 
the  will  of  God,  and  whatever  He  evidently  ordains  we 
should  cheerfully  obey;  and  oftentimes  he  brings  great 
good  out  of  what  we  call  our  misfortunes.  The  evils 
of  fretting  ourselves  and  longing  for  change  which  we 
know  but  little  or  nothing  of,  often  brings  us  into  a 
miserable  state.  If  we  continue  in  a  rebellious  frame 
of  mind  we  may  fear  the  fate  of  the  flying-fish.  God 
may  grant  our  requests  as  he  did  the  Israelites  of  old, 
and  send  leanness  into  our  souls. 


VIRTUOUS  POVERTY. 

"  Man  wants  but  little  here  below, 
Norneeds  that  little  long." 

And  yet  to  possess  but  little,  though  it  be  full  enough 
for  the  real  wants  of  nature,  is  deemed  wretchedness. 
Poverty  is  to  many  a  delicate  ear  one  of  the  most 
frightful  words  in  our  language.  But  it  should  be  re- 
membered that  the  word  has  several  degrees  of  signifi- 
cation, and  is  really  frightful  in  the  extreme  degree 
only. 

The  rags  and  filth  and  the  ignorance  and  depravity 
so  common  in  the  abodes  of  squalid  poverty,  are 
objects  of  extreme  disgust,  as  they  often  exhibit  human 
nature  in  some  of  its  worst  forms.  The  idle,  vicious 
and  profligate  poor  compose  a  mass  of  wretchedness, 
shocking  and  disgusting  and  loathsome,  and  but  little 
pity  can  be  felt  for  the  suffering  which  they  bring  on 
themselves  from  their  idle  and  vicious  habits. 


THE   PICTURE   PREACHER.  213 

This  is  not,  however,  simple  poverty,  but  poverty 
and  the  grossness  of  vice  in  alliance,  and  it  is  the  latter 
that  gives  the  former  its  hideous  coloring.  Virtuous 
poverty,  on  the  other  hand,  however,  disrespected  by  a 
scornful  world,  is  sober  truth,  respected  by  the  real 
nobles  of  the  human  race.  It  is  not  in  the  splendor  of 
riches  or  lap  of  ease  that  man,  as  a  moral  being, 
usually  shows  forth  the  finest  features  of  character. 
For  the  highest  traits  of  virtue  can  be  developed  only 
in  a  condition  of  considerable  hardship  or  suffering, 
namely,  the  virtues  of  fortitude,  self-denial,  patience, 
humility  and  quiet  resignation. 

*'The  poet  of  reality,  and  reality  in  low  life,"  the 
Rev.  Gr.  Crabbe  has  portrayed  with  masterly  powers  of 
description,  both  vicious  and  virtuous  poverty,  not 
from  fancy,  but  from  what  he  saw  and  knew.  His  tale 
of  the  ^^Sad  Girl,"  in  point  of  heart-moving  interest, 
has  scarcely  a  rival  even  in  romance. 

It  is  the  story  told  in  verse  of  a  poor  young  woman 
of  the  borough,  who,  after  waiting  a  long  time  in  anx- 
ious  expectation  of  the  young  sailor  who  had  prom- 
ised to  marry  her,  at  length  received  him  emaciated 
and  mortally  sick,  and  nursed  him  day  and  night  with 
the  utmost  tenderness  until  he  breathed  his  last. 

The  following  lines  of  it  show  how  lovely  and  how 
sacred  is  the  cottage  of  the  poor  when  adorned  with 
virtue  and  pure  religion : 

"Still  long  she  nursed  him;  tender  thoughts  meantime 
Were  interchanged,  and  hopes  and  views  sublime. 
To  her  he  came  to  die,  and  every  day, 
She  took  some  portion  of  the  dread  away : 
With  him  she  pray'd, — to  him  his  bible  read. 
Soothed  the  faint  heart  and  held  the  aching  head : — 
She  came  with  smiles,  the  hour  of  pain  to  cheer, 
Apart  she  sighed — alone  she  shed  tne  tear: 
Then,  as  if  breaking  from  a  cloud,  she  gave 
Fresh  light,  and  gilt  the  prospect  of  the  grave." 

Blessed  indeed,  are  such  poor! — and  of  such  the 
number  is,  in  all  probability  far  greater  than  is  gener- 


214  ROYAL   ROAD   TO   HAPPINESS;    OR  . 

ally  imagined:  the  virtuous  deeds  and  heavenly  dispo- 
sitions of  the  obscure  children  of  poverty  being  very 
little  known  or  noticed  saved  by  the  Omniscient  eye. 


SAYING    TOO   MUCH. 

Dr.  Cotton  Mather,  an  author  and  preacher  of  con- 
siderable merit,  was  so  annoyed  by  so  many  tedious 
visits  of  little  importance  consuming  much  of  his  time, 
that  he  wrote  over  his  study  door  to  be  seen  by  all 
callers,  ^*  Be  Short."  This  motto,  enforcing  brevity,  is 
one  of  importance  to  follow. 

The  engraving  shows  a  man  who  is  in  a  hurry  to 
deliver  a  message  of  importance  requiring  immediate 
attention;  his  friend  is  hindering  him,  wishing  to  say 
a  few  words.  .  .  On  the  right  is  shown  a  ship  on 
the  stocks  ready  for  launching.  An  account  of  this  is 
given  near  the  end  of  this  article  in  two  styles,  one  of 
Avhich  is  diffuse  and  flowery,  the  other,  in  a  short,  com- 
prehensive manner,  in  a  few  words  embraces  every- 
thing which  the  public  care  to  know. 

^^Be  Short"  is  a  truth  ever  to  be  held  in  remem- 
brance as  of  continual  application  in  our  intercourse 
with  others.  The  interchange  of  friendly  visits  is  one 
of  the  most  precious  sweets  of  life,  but  when  over- 
done becomes  irksome  and  disgusting.  Hence,  in  the 
book  of  the  Wise  Man  we  meet  with  the  following 
counsel:  *^ Withdraw  thj^  foot  from  thy  neighbor's 
house  lest  he  be  weary  of  thee." 

The  sage  counsel,  "Be  Short,"  applies  not  to  visitors 
alone.  It  might  be  made  of  like  precious  use  to 
authors  and  public  speakers,  who  often  lack  one  valu- 
able kind  of  knowledge,  namely,  *^that  of  discerning 
when  to  have  done."  "Tediousness,"  as  a  writer  of 
eminent  abilities  observes,  "is  the  fault  that  generally 
displeases,  since  it  is  a  fault  that  is  felt  by  all  equally. 
You  may  offend  your  reader  or  hearer  in  one  respect, 


THE   PICTURE   PREACHER. 


UNIVERl 

215 


SAYING  TOO  MUCH. 


Tn  the  multitude  of  words  there  wanteth  not  sin  :  but  he  that  re^ 

fraineth  his  lips  is  wise.     Pro  v.  x.  19. Seest  thou  a  ma?i  that 

is  hasty  in  his  words  ?  there  is  more  hope  of  a  fool  than  of  him, 

Prov.  xxix.  20. He  multiplieth  words  without  knowledge.     Job 

XXXV.  16. Ye  have  wearied  the  Lord  with  your  words.     Mai. 

ii.  17. Death  and  life  are  in  the  power  of  the  tongue,     Prov. 

xviii.  21. Se  that  will  love  life,  and  see  good  days,  let  him  re- 

frain  his  tongue  from  evil^  and  his  lips  that  they  speak  no  guile. 
1  Peter  iii.  10. 


216  BOYAL   ROAD   TO   HAPPINESS;    OR 

and  please  him  in  another ;  but  if  you  tire  him  out 
with  your  tediousness,  you  give  him  unmingled  dis- 
gust." 

A  book  can  do  but  little  good  if  it  be  but  little  read; 
a  destiny  that  befals  almost  every  book  that  is  found 
too  prolix  or  bulky.  This  was  the  error  of  former 
times.  Whereas,  had  the  highly  respected  authors 
learned  to  be  short,  or  had  given  heed  to  the  art  of 
compressing  their  thoughts,  they  would  have  never 
wanted  for  readers.  A  large  part  of  the  readers  of  the 
present  age  mainly  confine  their  reading  to  the  news- 
papers of  the  day,  and  can  hardly  give  the  time  to  the 
reading  of  elaborate  productions.  The  Bible,  though 
a  large  book  bound  together  in  one  volume,  is  prop- 
erly a  collection  of  sixty-six  different  books,  all 
penned  with  brevity,  as  well  as  with  inimitable  sim- 
plicity and  weight  of  matter. 

*^ Speak,  young  man,  if  there  be  need  of  thee,  but 
be  short,"  is  a  monitory  saying  of  the  son  of  Sirach 
which,  with  the  two  short  sayings  of  this  eminent 
sage,  "Learn  before  thou  speak."  *^We  may  speak 
much  and  yet  come  short,"  is  a  good  rule  for  forward 
young  men  to  give  heed  to  when  they  attempt  to 
speak  before  large  assemblages.  Long  speeches  before 
public  bodies,  long  sermons,  etc.,  seldom  fail  to  be 
tiresome.  It  should  not  be  the  ambition  of  a  public 
speaker  to  say  very  many  words  on  any  given  subject, 
but  he  should  endeavor  to  concentrate  his  ideas  in  a 
few  but  forcible  and  plain  words,  understood  by  all 
his  hearers  and  all  to  the  purpose,  and  then  stop  it. 
This  is  more  effective  than  a  long  array  of  arguments 
with  much  speech,  which  is  apt  to  confuse  the  mind 
and  it  gets  lost  in  a  labyrinth  of  words. 

They  who  expect  to  be  listened  to  by  everybody  but 
are  unwilling  themselves  to  listen  to  any  body — who 
will  hold  you  by  the  sleeve  or  button  if  you  attempt 
to  escape  them,  and  din  you  the  harder,  the  more  you 
show  signs  of  weariness;  this  tribe  of  talkers,  as  all 


THE   PICTURE   PREACHER.  217 

but  themselves  will  readily   admit,  say   too  much — 
altogether  too  much! 

Persons  who  have  wit,  or  who  think  they  have  it, 
are  in  particular  hazard  of  saying  too  much.  It  is  one 
of  the  hardest  things  in  the  world  to  make  a  temperate 
use  of  real,  or  self-supposed  wit,  and  more  particu- 
larly of  the  talent  for  raillery.  And  hence,  many  a 
one,  not  wanting  in  good  nature,  and  meaning  the 
while  nothing  more  than  to  show  oif  his  wit,  multi- 
plies enemies,  and  sometimes  wounds  his  best  friends. 
To  make  use  of  one  of  Crabbe's  poems — 

"He  kindles  anger  by  untimely  jokes." 

They  who  talk  merely  with  a  desire  to  shine  in  com- 
pany, or  for  the  sake  of  showing  off  their  own  parts 
and  learning  always  say  too  much. 

Those  who  are  inordinately  fond  of  speaking  in  the 
first  person — I,  myself — it  is  more  than  an  even  thing 
that  they  will  say  too  much.  When  a  young  man, 
whose  stock  is  small,  is  more  eager  to  expend  it  in 
talking  than  to  increase  it  by  patient  listening,  he  is 
very  apt  to  say  too  much. 

Old  men  are  prone  to  say  too  much  when  they  rep- 
resent the  former  days  as  better  than  the  present  times, 
as  if  the  human  families,  notwithstanding  all  their 
superior  advantages,  were  perpetually  retrograding 
instead  of  advancing ;  as  if  men  and  women  of  this 
day  were  much  inferior  to  their  progenitors.  We  would 
here  also  say,  let  not  him  that  talketh  not  despise  him 
that  talketh.  There  have  been  some  of  the  human 
family,  both  male  and  female,  who  have  obtained  the 
reputation  of  ability  and  wisdom  by  their  grave  taci- 
turnity— everybody  thinking  they  could  say  a  great 
deal  if  they  would — when  in  fact,  their  habitual  silence 
was  owing  to  a  dearth  of  ideas  or  to  dullness. 

Some  writers  and  orators  in  giving  accounts  of  com- 
mon occurrences  will  do  it  in  a  fervid,  florid  and 
flowery  style,  and  so  overload  the  subject  with,  many 

10 


218  ROYAL    ROAD   TO    HAPPINESS;    OR 

words  as  to  render  it  unintelligible.  Others  will  lasli 
themselves,  with  many  big  words,  into  a  passion  of 
excitement  over  a  small  matter  for  indignation,  and 
thus,  as  it  were, 

'      "Invoke  the  thunders  of  Jove  to  kill  a  flea." 

The  following  is  from  an  ancient  Connecticut  news- 
paper. The  stanza  at  the  end  of  the  article  is  sup- 
posed to  have  been  given  by  the  Connecticut  editor  as 
a  finishing  touch  to  the  flowery  description  which  pur- 
ports to  have  been  originally  published  in  a  Boston 
newspaper.  The  editor  was  evidently  something 
of  a  wag.  He  closes  up  with  a  matter-of-fact  descrip- 
tion in  his  own  paper  as  a  set-off  to  the  preceding 
bombast: 

Middletown^  June  *lth^  1799. 
The  Launch. — More  of  the  Wooden  Walls  of  Columbia. — 
Yev«iterday,  at  35  minutes  and  4  seconds  past  five  P.  M.,  the 
United  States  Ship  Connecticut  was  safely  deposited  on  the  bosom 
of  the  majestic  stream  whence  she  derives  lier  name.  No  words 
can  convey  an  adequate  idea  of  the  beauty  and  brilliancy  of  the 
scene.  Nature,  as  inclined  to  do  honor  to  the  occasion,  had  fur- 
nished one  of  the  most  delightful  days  that  the  vernal  season  ever 
witnessed.  While  old  father  Connecticut,  eager  to  receive  his 
beautiful  ofi^spring,  had  swollen  his  waters  by  the  liquefaction  of 
snows,  reserved  for  the  occasion,  near  his  source,  in  order  to  facil- 
itate her  passage  to  his  wave;  and  extending  his  liquid  arms, 
welcomed  her  to  his  embrace.  Flora,  decked  in  her  richest  attire, 
smiled  gleefully  around;  and  a  brilliant  concourse  of  spectators 
from  this  and  the  neighboring  towns,  whose  countenances  ex- 
pressed the  liveliest  sensibility  at  thus  Avitnessing  the  progress  of 
our  nautical  armament,  destined  to  protect  our  commerce  and 
hurl  the  thunders  of  Columbia  on  her  shrinking  foes,  formed  a 
most  magnificent  moving  picture,  in  addition  to  the  brilliancy  of 
nature  wliich  shone  around.  The  preparation  for  the  launch  was 
exquisite,  and  evincive  of  the  consummate  skill  of  the  architect 
who  superintended  the  operations  of  the  day,  and  whose  orders 
were  given  with  dignity  and  obeyed  with  punctilious  nicety. 
When  the  moment  arrived  at  which  the  elegant  fabric  was  to 
leave  her  earthly  bed  never  more  to  return,  the  anxiety  of  the 
crowd  was  witnessed  by  a  solemn  silence,  awful  and  profound. 
The  stroke  was  struck,  the  blocks  were  removed,  when  lo !  with  the 
grace  and  majesty  of  the  divine  Cleopatra,  or  the  wonder-struck 
Cydnus,  she  glided  into  the  arms  of  her  parent  river,  and  as  if 


THE    PICTURE    PREACHER.  219 

reposing  herself  to  sleep  upon  a  bed  of  roses,  sunk  upon  his 
breast.  In  a  moment  the  peal  of  Federalism  burst  forth,  the 
paeans  of  the  gazing  thousands  met  the  heavens,  and  echo  faintly 
expired  on  the  distant  hills. 

While  shad  and  salmon  feel  the  patriot  plow, 
And  throng  in  numerous  shoals  the  watery  way, 

And  sturdy  sturgeon  from  the  depths  below, 
Leap  up  her  matchless  beauty  to  survey. 

[*^*  The  above  Bostonian  paragraph,  translated  in  the  vernac- 
ular tongue,  reads  thus:  The  United  States  Ship  Connecticut, 
which  is  to  be  commanded  by  Capt.  Moses  Tryon,  was  yesterday, 
in  the  afternoon,  safely  launched  from  the  ship-yard  at  Chatham, 
into  the  Connecticut  river.] 


THE  TAX  ON  WORLDLY  GREATNESS. 

The  annexed  engraving  shows  the  Queen  sitting  in 
grandeur  and  regal  majesty  on  her  throne.  She  ap- 
pears oppressed  with  grief.  Her  State  is  divided,  it 
may  be,  by  rival  factions,  and  her  private  peace  of 
mind  is  destroyed  by  public  cares  ;  she  remains  a  mel- 
ancholy picture  of  the  troubles  that  attend  on  greatness, 
and  of  the  sacrifice  those  make  who  exchange  their  tran- 
quiHty  for  crowns  and  scepters,  and  their  love  for  the 
splendor  of  dominion.  In  the  back-ground  the  rustic 
boy,  in  the  full  tide  of  health  and  activity,  appears  enjoy- 
ing his  rural  sports  on  the  wide  common,  to  which  he  has 
free  access.  He  knows  nothing  of  the  miseries  attend- 
ing on  worldly  greatness.  On  the  score  of  true  happiness 
the  rustic  is  and  will  probably  remain  far  above  that  of 
the  majestic  queen. 

The  monition  of  an  inspired  prophet  to  his  familiar 
friend  contains  a  volume  of  instruction.  '^  Seekest 
thou  great  things  for  thyself?  Seek  them  not."  Hardly 
anything  is  more  certain  than  the  vanity  or  uncertainty 
of  human  greatness,  not  only  by  reason  of  its  being 
transitory  and  perishable,  but  it  is  also  accompanied 
with  much  more  than  an  ordinary  share  of  trouble  and 
vexation. 


THE  TAX  ON  WORLDLY  GREATNESS. 


Better  is  a  handful  with  quietness^  than  both  hands  full  with 

travail  and  vexation  of  spirit,     Eccl.  iv.  6. A  man^s  life  con- 

sisteth  not  in  the  abundance  of  the  things  he  possesseth,     Luke  xii. 

15. The  abundance  of  the  rich  shall  not  suffer  him  to  sleep, 

Eccl.  V.  12. 1  the  preacher  was  king  .  .  I  made  me  great  loorks 

,  ,  ,  I  gat  me  servants  and  inaidens .  . .  I  had  great  possessions ,  .  , 
I  gathered  me  silver  and  gold .  ,  ,  J  was  great  and  increased  more 
than  all  that  were  before  me  ....  m.y  wisdom  remained  with  me, 
and  whatsoever  my  eyes  desired^  I  kept  not  from  them  ,  .  .  behold^ 
all  was  vanity  and  vexation  of  spirit.     Eccl.  chapter  ii. 


THE    PICTURE    PREACHER.  221 

If  we  consider  the  first  and  greatest  of  all  wordly 
distinctions — Ave  mean  extraordinary  gifts  of  nature- 
even  these,  for  the  most  part,  are  heavily  taxed  by  the 
impartial  hand  of  the  giver.  The  few  geniuses  (few 
indeed' in  comparison  to  the  number  of  those  that  claim 
that  distinction),  so  far  from  being  the  happiest,  are 
often  the  most  wretched  of  mortals.  The  irritableness 
and  spleen  of  distinguished  authors,  especially  of  poets, 
are  proverbial.  The  same  texture  and  tone  of  the  system 
which  qualify  them  for  soaring  into  the  regions  of  fancy 
and  painting  nature  in  all  her  hues,  do  utterly  dis- 
qualify them,  in  many  instances,  for  enjoying,  in  an 
equal  measure  with  the  rest  of  mankind,  the  common 
blessings  of  life.  The  keenness  of  the  ridicule  and 
sarcasm  which  is  often  cast  upon  their  productions  by 
unfeeling  criticism,  they  are  often  fated  to  endure — so 
that  as  regards  ease  and  comfort,  plain  common  sense, 
with  controlled  passion,  is  far  better  than  genius,  when 
taxed,  as  it  often  is,  with  morbid  sensibility,  and  with 
passions  violent  and  ungovernable. 

The  greatest  beauties  are  seldom  the  most  amiable, 
the  most  discreet  and  respectable,  or  the  most  happy, 
of  women ;  while  often  their  beauty  has  been  their 
ruin.  And,  indeed,  if  we  were  to  make  a  general  sur- 
vey of  the  extraordinary  gifts  of  nature,  and  weigh 
together  in  an  even  balance,  their  advantages  and  disad- 
vantages as  respects  the  comforts  of  their  possessors, 
we  should  find  that  in  many  instances,  if  not  in  most, 
the  latter  are  fully  equal  to  the  former. 

Neither  are  the  gifts  of  fortune  exempt  from  heavy 
and  grievous  taxation;  vast  wealth  brings  upon  its 
possessor  a  load  of  incessant  care,  generates  feelings 
incompatible  with  quiet  enjoyment,  and  often  makes 
profligates  of  his  children — power,  for  which  riches 
themselves  are  chiefly  coveted,  is  often  accompanied 
with  more  of  vexation  than  of  substantial  enjoyment. 
Royalty  itself  has  its  disquietudes  and  real  troubles,  as 
set  forth  in  Shakespeare^s  Henry  IV.^s  soliloquy  on  the 


222         ROYAL  ROAD  TO  HAPPINESS;  OR 

loss  of  one  of  the  most  common  blessings  of  life,  which 
the  meanest  of  his  people  enjoyed ; 

"  How  many  thousands  of  my  poorest  subjects 
Are  at  this  hour  asleep  ! — O  gentle  sleep  I 
Nature's  soft  nurse  1  how  have  I  frighted  thee 
That  thou  no  more  wilt  weigh  my  eyelids  down, 
And  steep  my  senses  in  forgetfulness  ? 

Why  liest  thou  with  the  vile, 
In  loathsome  beds,  and  leav'st  the  kingly  couch  ? 
.     .     .     .     upon  the  high  and  giddy  mast, 
Seal  lip  the  ship-boy's  eyes  and  rock  his  brains 
In  cradle  of  the  rude,  imperious  surge 

give  repose 

To  the  wet  sea  boy  in  an  hour  so  rude, 
And  in  the  calmest  and  the  stillest  night. 
With  all  appliances  and  means  to  boot. 
Deny  it  to  a  king  ?     Then  happy,  lowly  clown  ! 
Uneasy  lies  the  head  that  wears  a  crown." 

Mary,  Queen  of  England,  in  a  letter  to  her  husband, 
William  III.,  then  in  Ireland,  thus  describes  the  troubles 
of  her  exalted  station :  ^'I  must  see  company  on  set 
days ;  I  must  laugh  and  talk,  though  never  so  much 
against  my  will.  I  must  grin  when  my  heart  is  ready 
to  break,  and  talk  when  my  heart  is  so  oppressed  that 
I  can  scarce  breathe.  All  my  motions  are  watched, 
and  all  I  do  so  observed  that  if  I  eat  less,  or  speak  less, 
or  look  more  grave,  all  is  lost  in  the  opinion  of  the 
world." 

It  is  related  that  Washington,  the  **  Father  of  his 
Country,"  when  speaking  on  the  subject  of  death,  used 
often  to  declare  that  he  would  not  live  his  life  over 
again  were  it  in  his  power.  Some  may  be  surprised 
that  such  a  statement  could  be  made  by  one  whose  life 
was  covered  with  glory  beyond  that  of  most  mortals. 
And  how,  we  may  be  ready  to  ask,  could  he  find  it  so 
unsatisfying  ?  ^^  A  few  moments'  reflection,"  says  the 
writer,  "  convinces  me  that  the  thing  was  neither  in- 
credible nor  wonderful.  In  the  seven  years'  war,  and 
the  eight  years  of  his  administration,  his  anxiety  and 
fears  lest  by  some  improper  step  he  might  endanger 


THE    PICTURE    PREACHER.  223 

the  interests  of  his  country,  far  outweighed,  in  all  prob- 
ability, everything  of  real  enjoyment  that  mere  human 
power  or  greatness  can  bestow.  Nor  is  it  unreasonable 
to  think  that  during  those  fifteen  anxious  years  many 
a  day  laborer,  nay,  many  a  menial  servant,  enjoyed  a 
greater  portion  of  unalloyed  comfort  than  did  the  illus- 
ti'ious  man  whom  the  world  held  in  such  admiration." 
For  the  enjoyment  of  every  essential  comfort  that 
this  world  can  afford,  there  is  need  only  of  health  and 
competence,  together  with  a  contented  mind,  a  pure 
conscience,  and  a  grateful  heart. 


CONTENT  AND   DISCONTENT. 

The  following  short  apologue  of  Sadi,  an  Asiatic 
sage,  is  full  of  valuable  instruction :  *^  I  never  com- 
plained of  my  wretched,  forlorn  condition,  but  on  one 
occasion,  when  my  feet  were  naked  and  I  had  not  the 
wherewithal  to  shoe  them.  Soon  after  meeting  a  man 
without  feet,  I  was  thankful  for  the  bounty  of  Provi- 
dence to  myself,  and  with  perfect  resignation  submit- 
ted to  my  want  of  shoes." 

The  secret  of  living  happily  lies  in  the  philosophy 
of  contentment.  It  is  to  be  lamented,  however,  that, 
in  this  age  of  boasted  light  and  improvement,  the 
philosophy  of  contentment  is  very  little  studied  or 
regarded.  From  various  corrupted  sources  we  have 
learned,  not  to  be  content,  but  dissatisfied,  with  the 
ordinary  conditions  of  life.  And  though  neither  shoe- 
less, nor  destitute  of  any  essential  article  of  raiment  or 
food,  we  are  ready  to  consume  our  hearts  with  vexation 
because  we  are  not  seated  at  the  upper  end  of  fortune's 
table.  The  semblance  of  happiness  is  more  sought 
after  than  the  reality ;  the  mere  phantom  of  it,  rather 
than  the  substance.  Plain  apparel,  plain  fare,  and  plain 
houses  and  furniture,  such  as  our  worthy  progenitors 
were  quite  contented  with  and  very  thankful  for,  our 


224  ROYAL    ROAD    TO    HAPPINESS;    OR 

fastidious  delicacy  regards  with  scorn,  and  we  must 
needs  be  fine,  and  fashionable,  else  pine  our  lives  away 
in  grief  and  shame. 

Nor  would  it  be  either  so  alarming,  or  so  lament- 
able, were  this  the  folly  of  only  a  few.  But  the  worst 
of  it  is,  it  has  spread,  like  an  epidemic,  over  the  whole 
land,  and  throughout  almost  every  class  of  society. 
Tens,  and  even  hundreds  of  thousands,  embracing  both 
sexes  alike,  are  the  miserable  victims  of  a  morbid  sen- 
sibility, and  squeamishly  dash  from  their  lips  the  cap 
of  ordinary  comfort  which  they  are  presented  with, 
because  it  is  not  filled  to  the  brim,  or  because  it  is  not 
spiced  and  sweetened  exactly  to  their  taste. 

As  the  want  of  contentment  is  one  of  the  most  griev- 
ous wants  that  affect  human  life,  it  ought  to  be  pro- 
vided against  with  the  utmost  care,  and  particularly  in 
the  following  ways : 

1.  In  training  up  children,  scarcely  anything  is  of 
greater  importance  than  guarding  them  against  the  in- 
trusion of  too  many  artificial  wants.  I  say  too  many, 
because  some  wants  of  this  sort  do  naturally  and  neces- 
sarily grow  out  of  civilization,  and  it  is  their  excess 
only  that  tends  to  discontent  and  wretchedness.  Of 
that  excess  the  danger  is  great,  inasmuch  as  the  eff*ects 
are  always  deplorable.  What  multitudes,  at  this  very 
instant,  are  discontented  and  wretched,  who  might 
enjoy  life  comfortably  had  they  been  early  taught  to 
conform  their  desires  to  their  conditions,  and  to  act 
upon  the  principles  of  sober  and  rational  economy. 
Nor  is  it  of  small  importance  in  training  up  children, 
to  accustom  them  to  useful  employment.  A  useless 
life  is  seldom  found  to  be  a  contented  one.  Occupa- 
tion is  so  necessary  to  human  quiet,  that  to  bring  up 
children  in  idleness  is  the  way  to  make  them  a  burden 
to  themselves  as  well  as  community. 

From  this  twofold  cause,  the  excess  of  artificial  wants 
and  the  neglect  of  forming  habits  of  useful  industry  in 
the  early  period  of  life,  there  has  sprung  perhaps  a  full 


THE   PICTURE    PREACHER.  225 

half  of  the  discontent  that  secretly  preys  upon  so  many- 
bosoms.  In  short,  important  as  it  is  to  teach  children 
in  school  learning,  it  is  of  still  greater  importance  to 
regulate  their  tempers,  to  cm-b  their  wayward  desires 
and  fix  in  them  habits  of  industry,  tempei'ance  and 
frugality,  without  which  the  acquisition  of  learning, 
could  be  of  but  little  use  to  them. 

2.  The  self-discipline  of  an  adult  is  essential  to  a 
contented  life.  A  well  disciplined  mind  is  commonly 
content  by  moderating  its  desires  within  its  means.  It 
accustoms  itself  to  view  without  envy  the  wealth  and 
grandeur  which  fall  not  to  its  lot,  and  which  seldom 
renders  its  possessors  more  happy ;  and  to  be  satisfied 
with  and  thankful  for  the  mere  necessary  and  common 
accommodations  of  the  journey  of  life. 

In  short  it  depends  much  less  upon  our  circumstances 
whether  we  shall  be  happy  or  miserable  in  life,  than 
upon  our  tempers  and  view  of  things.  Many  enjoy 
themselves  in  narrow  circumstances,  because  they  bring 
their  minds  to  their  situation.  But  when  to  narrow 
circumstances  are  added  large  desires  and  magnificent 
notions,  it  is  then,  and  then  only,  that  unhappiness 
results  from  the  want  of  a  fortune. 


TWO  DISHONEST  MEN  AND  THE  COOK. 

Two  young  men  went  into  a  cook's  shop  under  pre- 
tense of  buying  meat ;  and  while  the  cook's  back  was 
turned,  one  of  them  snatched  up  a  piece  of  beef  and 
gave  it  to  his  companion,  who  presently  concealed  it 
under  his  cloak.  The  cook  turning  about  again,  and 
missing  his  beef,  began  to  charge  them  with  it ;  upon 
which  he  that  first  took  it  swore  bitterly  he  had  none  of  it 
He  that  had  it  swore  heartily  that  he  had  taken  none 
of  his  meat.  *^  Why,  look  ye,  gentlemen,"  said  the  cook, 
"  I  see  your  equivocation ;   and  though  I  cannot  tell 

10* 


226 


BOYAL   ROAD   TO   HAPPINESS;   OE 


\-  -f 


XV\x\%  and  ^ teal/n;^  ,     11 


TWO  DISHONEST  MEN,  AND  THE  COOK. 


And  let  none  of  you  imagine  evil  in  your  hearts  against  his 
neighbor ;  and  love  no  false  oath:  for  all  these  are  things  that  I 

hate  saith  the  Lord.     Zech.  viii.  17. An  ungodly  witness  scorn- 

eth  judgment.     Prov.  xix.  28. When  thou  sawest  a  thief  then 

thou  consentedst  with  him.     Psa.  1. 18. By  swearing,  and  lying, 

and  killing,  and  stealing,  .  .  .  they  break  out,  ....  therefore  shall 

the  land  mourn,     Hosea  iv.  2,  3. A  false  witness  shall  net  he 

unpunished,  and  he  that  speaketh  lies  shall  not  escape.     Prov. 
xix.  5. 


THE    PICTURE    PREACHER.  227 

winch  of  you  has  taken  my  meat,  I  am  sure,  between 
you  both,  there  is  a  thief  and  a  couple  of  rascals." 

Application. — An  honest  man's  word  is  as  good  as 
his  oath ;  and  so  is  a  rogue's,  too,  for  he  that  will 
cheat  and  lie,  why  should  he  scruple  to  forswear  him- 
self? Is  the  latter  more  criminal  than  either  of  the 
former  ?  An  honest  man  needs  no  oath  to  oblige  him  ; 
and  a  rogue  only  deceives  you  the  more  certainly  by 
it ;  because  you  think  you  have  tied  him  up,  and  he  is 
sure  you  have  not.  In  truth,  it  is  not  easy,  with  the 
eye  of  reason,  to  discern  that  there  is  any  good  in 
swearing  at  all.  We  need  not  scruple  to  take  an  hon- 
est man's  bare  asseveration ;  and  we  shall  do  wrong  if 
we  believe  a  rogue,  though  he  swears  by  the  most  sol- 
emn oaths  that  can  be  invented. 

There  are,  besides,  a  sort  of  people  who  are  rogues, 
and  yet  do  not  know  that  they  are  such;  who,  when 
they  have  taken  an  oath,  make  a  scruple  of  breaking, 
but  rack  their  inventions  to  evade  it  by  some  equivo- 
cation or  other,  by  which  if  they  can  but  satisfy  their 
consciences  and  serve  their  own  scheme,  they  think  all 
is  well,  and  never  once  consider  the  black  and  heinous 
guilt  which  must  attend  such  behavior. 


THE    UNKNOWN  GOD. 

Paul,  while  waiting  for  his  brethren  at  Athens,  took 
the  opportunity  to  preach  Christ  to  the  people.  The 
philosophers  of  the  place,  perceiving  in  their  view  he 
was  a  setter  forth  of  strange  gods,  and  probably  curi- 
ous to  know  what  this  new  doctrine  was,  brought  him 
before  the  court  of  Areopagus,  at  Mars  Hill.  The 
inscription  seen  on  the  altar  in  the  engraving  is  in 
Greek  letters,  reading:  *^To  the  Unknown  God." 

Athens,  the  principal  city  in  Greece,  was  the  seat  of 
learning  and  philosophy,  but  full  of  idolatry  in  the 
worship  of  gods  of  gold  and  silver,  the  work  of  men's 


228 


ROYAL   ROAD   TO   HAPPINESS:  OB 


The  beginning  and  the  ending 

which  is,  and  which  was,  and  which  is  to  come, 
the  ALMIGHTY.    Rev.  L  8. 


^pil:iSiiattaifefc. , 


Paul  reading  the  inscription  at  Athens. 

THE  UNKNOWN  GOD. 


IPoT  hj  him  were  all  things  created^ visible  and  invisible, 

^?z<?  he  is  before- all  things^  and  by  him  all  things  consist. 

Col.  i.  16,  17. The  king  eternal,  immortal,  invisible,  the  only 

wise  God,     I.  Tim.  i.  17. O  the  depth  ,.,,ofthe  wisdom  and 

knowledge  of  God/  how  unsearchable  are  his  judgments,  and  his 

ways  past  finding  out !  Rom.  xi.  33. The  true  light  that  light- 

eth  every  man  that  cometh  into  the  world,     John  i.  9. God  is 

no  respecter  of  persons, la  every  nation  ,  .  ,  ,  he  that  worketh 

righteousness  is  accepted.     Acts  x.  34,  35. The   Gentiles 

show  the  work  of  the  law  written  in  their  hearts,    Rom,  ii.  14,  15. 


THE   PICTURE   PREACHER.  229 

hands.  There  was,  however,  one  altar  on  which  there 
was  no  image  of  the  god  or  deity  worshiped,  but 
simply  an  inscription  to  a  deity  unknown.  This  has 
been  supposed  by  many  to  be  of  the  same  idolatrous 
character  as  the  others.  This  may  be  a  mistake.  It 
IS  believed  by  some  that  God  has  his  true  witnesses  in 
all  ages  and  nations  of  the  world,  though  but  little 
known.  Possibly  some  one  of  this  stamp,  seeing  the 
utter  worthlessness  of  the  worship  of  the  heathen  divini- 
ties, felt  moved  to  erect  an  altar  to  the  true  God,  who, 
to  the  body  of  the  people  with  whom  he  lived,  was 
unknown.  And  it  was  quite  possible  that  the  worship 
performed  at  this  altar  was  acceptable  as  any  that  was 
rendered  at  any  Jewish  altar. 

Even  among  Christians  of  the  present  day  it  maybe 
said,  in  some  respects,  that  the  Deity  to  them  may  be 
called  the  "Unknown  God."  Says  a  pious  writer, 
"  How  astonishingly  little  do  we  know  of  God !  How 
small  a  part  of  His  nature  do  we  comprehend,  of  His 
essential  attributes.  What  conception  can  we  form  of 
His  omnipresence  ?  Who  is  able  to  comprehend  how 
God  is  in  this  and  every  place  ?  How  he  fills  the  im- 
mensity of  space  I    Man  is  no  more  able  to  comprehend 

this  than  to  grasp  the  universe What 

conception  can  we  form  of  the  eternity  or  immensity 
of  God  ?"  without  beginning  of  days.  Such  knowledge 
is  too  wonderful  for  us ;  we  cannot  attain  to  it. 

Although  we  may  be  apprized  of  the  general  truth 
that  all  things  are  governed  by  the  providence  of  God, 
how  little  do  we  understand  of  his  providential  dealings 
either  with  regard  to  nations,  or  families,  or  individuals  ? 
There  are  heights  and  depths  in  all  these,  which  we  can 
in  no  wise  fathom.  Even  to  entire  nations  how  little  do 
we  comprehend  of  God's  providential  dealings  with 
them  I  What  great  nations  who  once  flourished  to  the 
terror  of  all  around  them  are  now  swept  away  from  the 
face  of  the  earth,  and  their  memorials  have  all  perished  ! 
But  why  it  has  pleased  the  Almighty  Governor  of  the 


230  ROYAL   ROAD    TO    HAPPINESS;    OR 

world  to  sweep  them  with  the  besom  of  destruction  we 
cannot  tell ;  those  who  succeeded  them  being  little  if 
any  better  than  they  were.  Indeed,  we  cannot  account 
for  his  present  dealings  with  the  inhabitants  of  the 
earth.  We  know  that  ^^the  Lord  is  loving  unto  every 
man,  and  his  mercy  is  over  all  his  works ;"  but  we 
know  not  how  to  reconcile  this  with  the  present  dispen- 
sations of  his  providence. 

Although  the  true  God  has  been  and  is  still  unknown 
to  the  greater  part  of  mankind,  yet  there  have  been  in 
all  ages  witnesses  like  Paul,  who  have  been  able  to 
declare  him  to  those  among  whom  they  lived.  It  is  to 
be  remembered  that  it  has  been  declared  by  Divine 
inspiration  that  the  time  is  coming  when  many  shall 
run  to  and  fro,  and  the  '^knowledge  of  God  shall  be 
increased,  and  the  earth  shall  be  covered  with  it  as  the 
waters  cover  the  sea." 

The  times  of  former  ignorance  have  been  winked  at 
or  passed  over,  but  the  time  has  arrived  when  God 
commandeth  all  men  everywhere  to  repent;  to  turn 
from  their  evil  ways  and  serve  Him.  A  finite  being 
cannot  fully  know  the  Infinite,  but  He  can  love  him 
and  keep  His  commandments. 

A  short  time  previous  to  His  crucifixion,  our  Divine 
Master  more  fully  disclosed  His  real  character  as  God 
than  at  any  other  time.  He  expressed  His  will  that 
His  disciples  should  be  where  He  was  that  they  might 
behold  the  glory  He  had  with  the  Father  before  the 
world  was.  They  doubtless  could  not  understand 
many  things  they  saw  about  them  as  we  do  now.  Why 
do  the  wicked  live  and  why  do  the  righteous  suffer  I 
The  whys  and  wherefores  of  many  things  we  do  not 
know,  but  He  has  promised  that  we  shall  hereafter  know 
even  as  we  are  known. 

"  Judge  not  the  Lord  by  feeble  sense : 

But  trust  him  for  his  grace ; 
Behind  a  frowning  providence 

He  hides  a  smiling  face.'* 


THE    PICTURE    PREACHER.  23 1 

MARTIN   LUTHER  AND   HIS  WIFE. 

Martin  Luther,  the  celebrated  Protestant  Reformer^ 
when  engaged  in  his  arduous  work,  at  times  met  with 
such  apparently  insurmountable  obstacles,  that  he  be- 
came so  deeply  despondent  that  his  friends  were 
alarmed,  fearing  he  would  lose  his  reason.  He  did  not 
sit  down  and  mope  over  his  troubles  as  people  when  in 
trouble  are  generally  prone  to  do,  but  was  ^'  terribly  in 
earnest "  in  all  his  words  and  acts. 

At  one  time  his  friends  had  to  shut  him  up  in  Wart- 
burg  Castle,  as  they  were  fearful  he  would  take  his 
own  life.  They  were  sorely  puzzled  how  to  manage 
him.  Finally  they  concluded  to  try  a  method  com- 
mon among  the  old  prophets,  who  often  taught  and 
rebuked  good  men  by  enigmas  and  parables. 

Luther's  wife,  the  amiable  and  gentle  Catherine 
Bora,  was  taken  into  their  confidence,  as,  owing  to  her 
love  and  solicitude  for  him,  she  was  the  very  best  per- 
son who  could  have  been  chosen  to  administer  to  the 
gloomy  man's  mind.  The  next  time  Luther  was  car- 
ried to  his  house  he  found  it  was  silent.  To  miss  the 
welcome  at  the  door  was  a  great  surprise  to  him,  and 
changed  the  current  of  his  thoughts.  He  finally  went 
into  the  parlor,  and  there  found  his  wife,  dressed  in 
deep  mom-ning,  weeping  as  if  her  heart  would  break. 

"  Wliat  is  the  matter,  Kate  f  asked  Luther,  now 
thoroughly  startled.  No  answer  but  sobs  and  tears. 
**Is  the  baby  dead?"  thinking  of  his  youngest  child, 
who  had  been  ill.  ^^No — worse  than  that — a  great 
deal  worse."  Then  came  a  fresh  burst  of  tears.  ^^  Kate, 
my  dear  wife  !  what  do  you  mean  !  Tell  me  quick  !" 
exclaimed  Luther.  **  O,  husband,  have  you  not  heard 
the  awful  news?  Haven't  you  heard  that  the  dear 
God,  our  Heavenly  Father  is  dead,  and  that  His  cause 
in  the  world  has  all  gone  to  ruin  f 

The  horrified  expression  on  Luther's  face  changed  at 
once.     He  stood  for  a  moment  looking  at  his  wife ;  and 


232  ROYAL   ROAD    TO    HAPPINESS;    OR 

then  began  to  shake  with  laughter.  Tlie  absurdity  of 
such  an  idea  as  that  the  Author  of  all  being  and  life  in 
the  universe  could  die  flashed  upon  him,  caused  him  to 
laugh  as  long  and  heartily  as  he  ever  did  in  his  life. 
"  Ah,  Kate,  Kate  !  my  good  v^ife,"  he  said  presently, 
**  I  read  your  riddle,  God  is  not  dead,  but  I  have  acted 
as  if  He  was.  You  have  taught  me  a  good  lesson, 
which  never  will  be  forgotten." 


THE  FOOLHAKDY  HOESEMAN. 

A  daring  horseman  once  mounted  upon  the  back  of 
a  wild  and  unbroken  steed,  and  although  warned  of  the 
danger,  he  persisted,  and  only  laughed  at  the  admoni- 
tions which  his  friends  had  given  him.  The  horse 
reared  and  curveted,  and  threw  up  his  heels,  but  still 
the  daring  rider  kept  his  seat,  and  even  urged  him  for- 
ward with  his  spurs  and  whip.  Onward  the  mad  ani- 
mal scoured  the  plains,  and  the  man  shouted  with 
delight ;  for  when  they  kept  to  the  open  ground  he 
felt  secure  from  danger.  Presently  they  came  to  a 
deep  and  rapid  river,  but  the  steed  rushed  forward ; 
plunging  into  the  stream,  he  safely  gained  the  opposite 
bank,  and  the  rider  only  smiled  at  the  risk  he  had  en- 
countered. After  a  while  they  reached  a  tangled 
forest,  but  the  horse  speeded  onward,  rushing  madly 
through  thorns  and  briars  that  impeded  their  way,  in- 
flicting many  painful  wounds  on  both.  Ungovernable 
rage  now  made  the  beast  furious,  and  the  rider  could 
neither  control  him  nor  throw  himself  from  his  back, 
but  at  the  immediate  risk  of  his  life.  Finally  they 
came  to  the  verge  of  a  deep  precipice,  down  which 
they  plunged  headlong,  and  were  both  dashed  to 
pieces ;  but  not  before  the  man  exclaimed,  "  This  is  the 
fruit  of  presumptuous  folly  that  saw  no  danger,  and 
would  listen  to  no  caution." 


THE   PICTURE    PREACHER. 


233 


THE  FOOLHARDY  HORSEMAN. 


Wine  is  a  mocker,  strong  drink  is  raging,     Prov.  xx   1. 

Wo  unto  them  that  are  mighty  and  of  strength  to  mingle  strong 

drink,     Isa.  xxiii.  32. Wo  unto  him,  that  gioeth  his  neighbor 

drink,     Hab.  ii  15. The  wages  of  sin  is  death,     Rom.  i.  23. 


234  ROYAL    ROAD   TO   HAPPINESS;    OR 

Application. — The  man  who  has  once  given  the  loose 
rein  to  his  passions  is  in  danger  of  being  carried  far 
beyond  the  bounds  of  safety ;  and  if  he  does  not  check 
in  time,  will  most  certainly  be  brought  to  destruction. 
The  passion  for  strong  liquor  is  especially  dangerous, 
for,  like  the  wild  steed,  it  carries  us  onward  through 
many  perils,  and  will  at  last  be  wholly  beyond  our 
power  to  control.  The  headstrong  youth  at  first  thinks 
there  is  no  danger,  and  that  he  can  stop  when  he 
pleases  ;  laughs  at  the  grave  admonitions  of  his  friends ; 
but  when  tlie  hour  of  ruin  comes,  he  sees  his  folly,  and 
bitterly  repents ;  but  his  repentance  comes  too  late. 

Strong  drink,  when  improperly  used,  throws  down 
the  fences  of  reflection,  fear  and  shame  ;  excites  men  to 
profane  things  sacred,  to  revile  the  most  respectable 
characters,  to  reproach  their  best  friends,  to  commit  the 
greatest  outrages,  to  embroil  themselves  in  riots  and 
quarrels,  to  gratify  the  baser  lusts,  and  thus  to  commit 
the  most  rash  and  ruinous  crimes. 


INDEPENDENCE. 


"Thy  spirit,  Independence,  let  me  share, 
Lord  of  the  lion  heart  and  eagle  eye, 

Thy  steps  I'll  ibllow  with  my  bosom  bare 

Nor  heed  the  Btorm  that  howls  along  the  sky." 

The  engraving  prefixed  to  this  article  is  designed  to 
illustrate  somewhat  the  spirit  that  pervades  the  mind 
of  those  who  aspire  to  the  true  dignity  of  the  manhood 
in  which  they  were  originally  created.  Man  was  made 
a  little  lower  than  ihe  angels,  and  was  placed  at  the 
head  ot  this  lower  creation,  and  should  exercise  the 
boldness  of  the  lion  in  opposing  the  moral  evils  by 
which  he  is  suiTOunded.  He  also  should,  like  the  eagle, 
be  able  to  discern  objects  from  afar  and  be  ])repared 
for  whatever  may  happen.  He  also  should  look  and 
mount  upward  on  eaglets  wings,  and  by  faith  discern 


THE   PICTURE    PREACHER. 


235 


hi '   *  ■" 


-z .»i'*t«i(illb«iiii\n' 


INDEPENDENCK 


The  righteous  are  as  hold  as  a  lion,     Prox.  xxviil  1. Doth 

the  eagle  mount  up  ,  ,  ,  ,  she  dwelleth  and  abideth  on  the  rock  .  .  . 
?ier  eyes  behold  afar  off.  Job  xxxix.  27,  28,  29. 1  have  cov- 
eted no  man^s  silver  and  gold  ....  these  hands  have  ministered  to 

tny  necessities.     Acts  xx.  33,  34. Providing  for  honest  things^ 

not  only  in  the  sight  of  the  Lord  bttt  also  in  the  sight  of  men, 

2  Cor.  viii.  21 1  was  chargeable  to  no  man  ....  I  kept  tnyself 

from  being  burdensome  to  you,,  and  so  will  I  keep  myself     2  Cor. 

xi.  9. As  poor  yet  making  many  rich;  as  having  nothing  and 

yet  i^ossessing  all  things,     2  Cor.  vi.  1 0. 


236  ROYAL    ROAD    TO    HAPPINESS;    OR 

beyond  the  vision  of  his  fellow  mortals  the  heavenly 
inheritance. .  The  spirit  of  true  independence  moves 
forward  **with  bosom  bare,"  willing  to  have  all  the 
principles  by  which  she  is  actuated  laid  open  to  "be 
seen  and  read  of  all  men."  Sustained  by  such  princi- 
ples she  heeds  not  the  storm  that  may  howl  around 
her  pathway ;  though  lightnings  may  flash  and  thunders 
roar  she  is  not  dismayed,  but.  with  an  eagle  eye  sees 
the  final  triumph. 

"  Independence  in  regard  to  worldly  condition,"  says 
an  able  writer,  *4s  an  object  of  rational  desire  and 
laudable  pursuit."  But  strictly  speaking,  the  word 
**  Independence  "  here  must  be  understood  in  a  limited 
sense,  as  no  man  living  can  exist  without  the  permis- 
sion of  Him  in  whom  we  all  live,  and  move,  and  have 
our  being.  There  is  among  mankind  a  mutual  depen- 
dence. The  rich  man  needs  his  poor  but  industrious 
neigbors  well  nigh  as  much  as  they  need  him.  Should 
they  refuse  to  sell  him  their  labor  he  would  be  obliged 
to  drudge  for  himself,  notwithstanding  his  great  wealth. 

"  The  independence  of  circumstances,  which  should 
be  made  the  object  of  general  desire  and  pursuit,  does 
in  no  wise  imply  large  possessions.  So  far  otherwise, 
one  possessed  of  barely  competent  means  of  support, 
provided  he  lives  within  these,  is  hardly  less  indepen- 
dent than  if  he  were  the  possessor  of  a  fortune.  Does 
the  rich  man  enjoy  independence  ?  so,  also,  does  the 
possessor  of  a  small  farm  which  furnishes  him  only  the 
necessaries  of  life ;  so  does  the  useful  laborer,  whose 
labor  supplies  all  his  real  wants.  But  if  a  small  farmer 
is  tempted  to  be  a  man  of  fashion  or  pleasm^e,  he  loses 
his  farm  and  withal  his  independence,  or,  if  a  laboring 
man,  neglects  his  labor  or  spends  faster  than  he  earns, 
his  independence  is  soon  gone. 

It  is  as  much  our  duty  as  our  interest  to  employ  pru- 
dent and  diligent  endeavors  to  escape  poverty  and 
want;  to  "provide  things  honest"  for  ourselves  and 
families ;  to  lay  up  against  sickness  and  the  decays  of 


THE    nCTURE    PREACHER.  237 

age ;  and  even  strive  hard  to  put  ourselves  in  a  condi- 
tion in  which  we  can  rather  be  the  dispensers  than  the 
receivers  of  charity.  Utter  neghgence  in  these  matters 
so  far  from  evincing  nobleness  of  spirit,  is  for  the  most 
part  somewhat  dishonorable  and  mean,  often  terminat- 
ing in  abjectness  of  body  and  mind.  The  loss  of  per- 
sonal independence,  or  the  condition  of  beggarly  want, 
places  one  in  a  state  of  temptation  against  which  Agar 
prayed  lest  he  steal  to  supply  his  necessities. 

It  would  be  almost  impossible  to  tell  the  precise 
quantity  of  worldly  estate  ^yhich  is  just  sufficient,  and 
no  more  than  sufficient.  The  best  rule,  after  having 
been  diligent  and  prudent  in  business,  is  to  be  satisfied 
with  the  appointment  which  Providence  makes,  and 
"having  food  and  raiment  therewith  to  be  content." 
The  middle  state  of  life  has  been  thought  by  the  wise 
to  afford  the  best  means  both  for  the  enjoyment  of 
comfort  and  for  the  practice  of  virtue.  Under  this  im- 
pression, Agar,  the  pious  sage  of  old,  petitioned  heaven, 
"  Give  me  neither  poverty  nor  riches."  There  ai'e  two 
extremes  in  human  life,  encompassed  with  peculiar 
evils ;  and  without  saying  what  is  difficult  for  many  to 
believe,  that  extreme  riches  is  as  much  to  be  dreaded 
as  extreme  poverty. 

It  would  be  well  if  people  in  middling  circumstances 
would  only  think  that  they  had  already  enough  to 
sustain  them  through  life,  and  that  they  have  reason  to 
be  thankful  for  what  they  have  got,  and  not  repine 
because  they  are  not  so  rich  as  many  they  see  around 
them. 

PETTY  SCANDAL  OR  BACKBITINa 

The  sacred  precept,  "Thou  shalt  not  bear  false 
witness  against  thy  neighbor,"  is  to  be  understood  as 
possessing  a  very  wide  meaning,  not  only  perjury  but 
also  evil  speaking  against  our  neighbors  in  any  degree. 
The  trespasses  of  the  tongue,  in  this  way,  are  so  innu- 


238  ROYAL   ROAD    TO    HAPPINESS;    OR 

merable,  so  diverse,  and  ofttimes  so  artful,  that  no  legis- 
lator could  classify  them,  and  much  less  enact  laws  that 
would  reach  them  wholly,  without  destroying  the  liberty 
of  speech  altogether.  And  besides,  there  is  in  society  a 
great  deal  less  averseness  to  evil  speaking  than  to  theft. 

If  one  have  his  money  or  his  goods  stolen,  he  no 
sooner  makes  it  known  than  his  neighbors  join  with 
him  in  searching  for  the  thief,  who,  if  found  and  con- 
victed, is  sure  to  be  punished ;  because  common  zeal,  as 
well  as  common  consent,  takes  sides  against  the  culprit. 
But  the  pilferers  from  character  fare  less  hard;  or 
rather,  they  are  tolerated,  provided  they  manage  with 
art  and  address,  and  mingle  some  wit  with  their  malice 
or  their  levity.  Somehow  there  is  a  sad  propensity  in 
our  fallen  nature  to  be  pleased  with  backbiting,  and  a 
smack  of  it  gives  a  zest  to  general  conversation. 

Few  are  altogther  without  envy,  which  ever  takes 
delight  in  a  backbiting  or  detracting  tongue.  Few  are 
without  some  conscious  and  visible  faults;  and  the 
faulty  are  naturally  prone  to  take  pleasure  in  the 
noticeable  faults  of  others,  as  it  tends  to  quiet  them 
about  their  own.  From  these  causes,  and  still  oftener, 
perhaps,  from  thoughtless  levity,  encouragement  is 
given  almost  everywhere  to  the  small  dealers  in  detrac- 
tion, who,  all  together,  compose  a  pretty  numerous  body. 

It  requires  no  great  stretch  of  charity  to  believe  that 
there  are  very  many  persons  who  never  have  been 
guilty  of  any  dishonest  action,  and  much  less  of  down- 
right theft.  But  it  is  to  be  apprehended  that  there  are 
very  few  indeed,  who  have  never  in  all  their  lives 
borne  false  witness  against  a  neighbor,  in  some  degree 
or  other,  either  by  unwarrantably  spreading  ill  reports 
or  else  by  giving  too  willing  an  ear  to  slander  and 
defamation.  It  is  the  evil  which  most  easily  besets  us  ; 
of  which  we  are  least  apt  to  be  aware ;  and  which  many 
men  and  women  practice  without  compunction,  and 
almost  without  thought,  although  apparently  of  estima- 
ble character  in  other  respects. 


THE   PICTURE    PREACHER. 


239 


EARTH  AND  HER  CHILDREN. 


For  we  know  that  the  whole  creation  groaneth  and  travaileth 

in  pain  together  until  now.     Rom.  viii.  22. 3Ian  is  born  u7ito 

trouble  as  the  sparks  fly  upward.     Job  v.  7. In  the  world  ye 

shall  have  tribulation,     John  xvi.  33. No  chastening  for  the 

present  seemeth  to  be  joyous^  but  grievous ;  afterward  it  yieldeth 

the  peaceable  fruits  of  righteousness.     Heb.  xiL  11. Let  them 

that  suffer  ,  .  .  commit  the  keeping  of  their  souls  ,  ,  ,  as  unto 
a  faithful  creator,     1  Pet.  iv.  19. 


240        ROYAL  ROAD  TO  HAPPINESS;  OR 

EARTH  AND   HER   CHILDREN. 

In  the  annexed  engraving,  the  man  in  the  central 
part  is  evidently  troubled  in  mind  or  body,  possibly  in 
both.  If  he  looks  around  he  beholds  that  the  lower 
creation  have  their  troubles ;  the  gentle,  timid  cow  is 
bemoaning  the  loss  of  her  beloved  offspring,  who  has 
been  di-agged  away  to  the  slaughter;  the  harmless 
sheep  raises  her  bleat  on  account  of  the  loss  of  her 
young.  On  the  right  is  seen  the  faithful  dog  howling 
on  the  grave  of  his  kind  master.  In  front  a  bloody 
conflict  is  going  on  between  two  of  the  feathered  tribe, 
and  it  may  be  one  kills  the  other  before  it  is  ended. 
In  this  they  copy  the  example  of  mankind  who,  with 
furious  malice,  fight  unto  death.  Even  the  insects  will 
rob  and  kill  each  other,  like  the  bees  who  rob  each 
other's  hives.  In  the  background  the  elements  are  in 
commotion ;  the  lightnings  flash  and  the  thunder  rolls. 
A  flash  of  electricity  has  set  a  neighbor's  bam  on  fire 
and  the  entire  harvest  of  a  season  is  destroyed  in  an 
hour.  If  the  man  looks  upward  he  beholds  heavy 
mists  and  darkness  which  his  eye  cannot  penetrate. 

During  the  latter  part  of  the  last  century.  Dr.  Aikin 
an  eminent  physician,  and  his  sister  Mrs.  Barbauld, 
established  themselves  in  London  as  authors,  and  pro- 
duced various  valuable  and  popular  works,  among 
which  were  several  volumes,  entitled  '*  Evenings  at 
Home."  The  following  (written,  it  is  believed,  by 
Mrs.  Barbauld),  is,  in  some  of  its  leading  features, 
extracted  from  that  work. 

In  a  certain  district  of  the  globe  things  one  year 
went  on  so  ill,  that  almost  the  entire  race  of  human 
beings,  animals  as  well  as  vegetables,  carried  their 
lamentations  and  complaints  to  their  common  mother, 
the  Earth. 

First  came  Man:  ^^0,  Earth,"  said  he,  "how  can  you 
behold,  unmoved,  the  calamities  of  your  favorite  off- 
spring !     Heaven  seems  to  shut  up  its  bowels  of  com- 


THE    PICTURE    PREACHER.  241 

passion,  and  plagues  and  pestilences  are  sent  among 
us ;  storms  and  tempests  prevail ;  the  elements  of  fire 
and  water  are  let  loose,  and  in  the  midst  of  all  these 
evils  some  demon  rages  in  our  minds,  so  that  we  are 
induced  to  kill  one  another  and  we  live  in  constant 
fear  of  being  destroyed.  Besides  these  outward  trou- 
bles we  are  mentally  disturbed  and  perplexed  to  in- 
quire, Wliy  is  evil  suffered  to  exist  in  God's  dominions  ? 
and  with  Job,  ask,  '  Why  do  the  wicked  live,  become 
old,  and  mighty  in  power  V  " 

The  brute  animals  then  spoke  by  their  deputies,  the 
horse,  the  ox,  and  the  sheep,  ^^O,  pity  us,  mother 
Earth,  those  of  your  children  that  repose  on  your 
breast  and  derive  their  subsistence  from  your  foodful 
bosom  !  *We  are  parched  by  thirst,  we  suffer  from  heat 
and  cold,  we  languish  under  disease,  and  the  race  of 
men  treat  us  with  unusual  rigor.  Never,  without 
speedy  relief,  can  we  survive  another  year.'' 

The  vegetables  came  next — those  that  form  the  ver- 
dant carpet  of  the  earth,  that  form  the  waving  fields  of 
harvest,  and  in  their  turn  uttered  their  complaint. 
^^  Oh,  generous  mother,  have  compassion  upon  us  ! 
See  how  we  droop  and  wither  under  the  gales  that 
sweep  over  us ;  how  we  thirst  in  vain  for  the  gentle 
dew  of  heaven ;  how  famishing  flocks  and  herds  tear 
us  up  by  the  roots,  and  how  immense  tribes  of  nox- 
ious insects  pierce  and  devour  us,  and  imless  you  save 
us,  another  year  will  witness  our  total  destruction." 

The  forest,  and  fruit  trees  also  make  their  complaint. 
^^  The  lightnings  strike,  tear  and  prostrate  the  good- 
liest among  us.  And  when  our  leaves  fall  and  dry 
away,  man  ruthlessly  sets  them  on  fire :  a  fiery  tem- 
pest sweeps  over  us  and  we  are  destroyed." 

"My  children,"  said  Earth,  "I  have  existed  thous- 
ands of  years,  and  scarce  one  of  them  has  passed  in 
which  similar  complaints  have  not  been  made.  Never- 
theless, everything  has  remained  in  nearly  the  same 
state.     The  injuries  of  one  year  are  repaired  by  the 

U 


242  ROYAL    ROAD    TO    HAPPINESS;    OR 

succeeding.  The  growing  vegetables  may  be  blasted, 
but  the  seeds  of  others  lie  secure  in  my  bosom,  ready 
to  receive  the  vital  influence  of  more  favorable  sea- 
sons. Animals  may  be  thinned  by  want  and  disease, 
but  a  remnant  is  always  left  in  whom  survive  the  prin- 
ciple of  future  increase. 

*^  As  to  man,  who  not  only  suffers  from  natural  causes 
but  his  own  vices,  his  miseries  often  rouse  his  latent 
powers  of  remedy.  If  he  will  listen  to  the  Divine 
voice  within,  he  will  be  conducted  to  the  path  of  hap- 
piness and  glory.  Have  patience,  then,  my  children  5 
you  were  born  to  suffer  as  well  as  to  enjoy,  and  you 
must  submit  to  your  lot 

*^  Why  we  are  placed  in  many  circumstances  in  which 
we  find  ourselves  cannot  now  be  comprehended,  but 
console  yourselves  with  the  thought  that  you  have  a 
kind  Master  above,  who  created  you  for  benevolent 
purposes,  and  when  you  commit  yourselves  to  him  he 
will  not  withhold  his  protection  when  you  stand  in 
most  need  of  it." 

In  looking  over  the  moral  and  physical  world  we 
find  that  evil  and  disorders  prevail.  Why  it  is  so  has 
puzzled  the  wise  of  all  ages.  This  led  the  apostle  to 
exclaim,  when  speaking  of  Grod,  ^^  O,  how  unsearcha- 
ble are  his  judgments  and  his  ways  past  finding  out !" 
We  see  through  a  glass  darkly.  As  much  as  we  can 
see  or  comprehend  of  what  the  Deity  is,  in  this  our 
fallen  state,  we  see  in  the  person  of  Jesus  Christ.  .  .  . 
"  God  manifest  in  the  flesh;"  ^^  Jesus  wept;"  .  .  .  God 
is  Love."  .  .  A  world  of  meaning  is  in  these  short  words, 
which  as  yet  in  our  imperfect  state  of  knowledge  we 
cannot  fathom. 

He  that  dictated  our  prayer,  "Thy  kingdom  come, 
Thy  will  be  done  in  earth  as  it  is  in  heaven,"  rules 
wisely.  This  prayer  will  be  granted.  **  A  new  earth 
wherein  dwelleth  riofhteousness,"  will  yet  appear,  and 
God's  unsuffering  kingdom  yet  shall  come.  For  that 
let  us  pray  and  wait. 


THE    PICTURE    PREACHER.  243 

THE  LITIGIOUS  CATS. 

Two  cats,  kept  at  the  same  mansion  house,  found 
one  day  a  large  piece  of  cheese  in  the  pantry,  which 
they  forthwith  purloined.  As  often  happens  in  such 
felonious  matters,  and  sometimes  in  honest  dealings,  the 
parties  could  not  agr^e  about  dividing  the  property 
they  had  acquired.  Therefore  they  consented  to  sub- 
mit the  decision  to  a  grave  monkey,  kept  on  the  prem- 
ises, who  readily  accepted  the  office  of  arbitrator  The 
monkey,  after  a  pair  of  scales  had  been  furnished,  pro- 
ceeded to  break  the  cheese  into  two  pieces  and  weigh 
each  piece,  one  against  the  other.  ^^This  lump,"  he 
cried,  as  one  scale  caused  the  other  to  kick  the  beam, 
*4s  larger  than  the  other."  He  bit  off  a  piece  and 
tried  again,  but  he  had  merely  reversed  the  odds.  A 
second  and  a  third  mouthful  had  the  same  effect,  till 
the  cats,  seeing  their  cheese  gradually  disappearing, 
entreated  him  to  let  them  have  the  portions  as  they 
were.  *^  Although  you  may  be  satisfied,"  said  he, 
** justice  is  not.  This  is  a  difficult  matter  and  must  be 
gravely  decided;"  and  he  went  on  till  the  pieces  bal- 
anced each  other. 

The  cats  were  now  convinced  that  an  equal  division 
of  the  remainder  of  the  cheese  was  now  left,  and  they 
hoped  that  something  of  their  original  claims  would  be 
realized.  But  they  were  both  disappointed.  ^^My 
friends,"  exclaimed  the  monkey,  *Hhe  ends  of  justice 
are  answered,  as  far  as  you  are  concerned.  It  now 
only  remains  to  settle  the  court  fees.  As  the  arbitrator 
has  had  some  trouble  in  awarding  to  the  parties  equal 
and  exact  justice,  it  is  right  and  proper  that  he  should 
receive  some  compensation  for  his  services.  The  court 
will  decide  the  amount  in  a  few  days,  and  in  the  mean- 
time will  retain  possession  of  the  cheese  belonging  to 
each  of  the  parties  till  all  the  accounts  are  settled." 

The  decision  arrived  at  was  very  similar  to  the  case 
of  the  judge  who  decided  upon  the  ownership  of  an 


244 


BOYAL   ROAD   TO   HAPPINESS;  OB 


frriijiiiriiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii 


It  costs  more  tliau  it  cornel  Willi  I 


iffiliiiiiP' 


mm 


THE  LITIGIOUS  CATS. 


Te  licst,  and  have  not :  ye  desire  to  have^  and  cannot  obtain  : 
ye  fight  and  war,  yet  ye  have  not :  ...  ye  ask  amiss,  that  ye  may 

consume  it  upon  your  lusts,     James  vl  2,  3. Leave  off  cotiten- 

tion  before  it  be  meddled  with.     Pro  v.  xvii.  14. But  avoid .  ,  , 

contentions  .  .  .  and  strivings  about  the  law  :    or  they  are  unprof 
itable  and  vain,    Titus  iii.  9. 


THE   PICTURE    PREACHER.  245 

oyster,  over  which  there  had  been  a  quarrel,  well  de- 
scribed in  a  distich  made  by  one  of  the  parties,  by  giv- 
ing each  party  a  half-shell  after  the  oyster  had  been 
taken  out. 

**  A  shell  for  you,  a  shell  for  me, 
The  middle  part  the  lawyer's  fee." 

Application. — The  very  name  of  law  seems  to 
imply  equity  and  justice,  and  that  is  the  bait  which 
has  drawn  in  many  to  their  ruin.  Others  are  excited 
by  their  passions,  and  care  not  if  they  destroy  them- 
selves, so  that  they  do  but  see  their  enemy  destroyed 
with  them.  When  people  have  gone  to  law  about 
trifles  it  is  rarely  to  be  found  but  one  or  both  parties 
was  either  stupidly  obstinate,  or  rashly  inconsiderate. 
If  it  should  appear  dubious,  how  much  better  would  it 
be  to  divide  the  thing  in  dispute  than  go  to  law,  and 
hazard  the  losing,  not  only  the  whole,  but  costs  and 
damages  into  the  bargain  ? 

It  is  against  the  rules  of  the  Society  of  Friends  or 
Quakers  to  allow  lawsuits  between  their  members. 
Where  difficulties  occur  between  them,  they  are  uni- 
formly settled  by  arbitration. 


MISERIES  OF  HIGH  LIFE. 

The  engraving  shows  two  men  in  high  life,  epicures, 
followers  of  Epicurus,  the  Greek  philosopher,  whose 
maxim  was,  **  Let  us  eat  and  drink,  for  to-morrow  we 
die."  Let  us  indulge  every  sense  and  appetite,  and 
slu-ink  from  all  hardship  as  mr  as  we  can,  for  death  will 
put  an  end  to  all  our  enjoyments,  and  nothing  further 
is  to  be  expected.  The  epicure  spares  no  expense  to 
gratify  his  appetite,  whether  it  comes  from  the  land  or 
sea,  being  in  that  respect  the  most  voracious  of  the 
animal  creation.  He  devours  the  animals  found  in  civ- 
ilized life,  the  beasts  of  the  forest,  birds  that  fly  in  air. 


246 


EOYAL   KOAD   TO   HAPPINESS;   OR 


W==^  \jCofnpofi/ided  Liq uorsT] >|^^^^^=^^^^ 
Rum,Brandies,Gin,  ^l^^^^^B 

Habana 


MISERIES  OF  HIGH  LIFE;  IDLENESS,  &c. 


Let  vs  eat  anddrinTc  for  to-morrow  we  die,     I.  Cor.  xv.  32. 

The  drunkard  shall  come  to  poverty.     Pro  v.  xxiii.  21. Whose 

god  is  their  belly ^  whose  glory  is  their  shame ^  who  mind  earthly 

things,     Phil.  ii.  3,  19. Who  hath  woe?     Who  hath  sorrow  f 

....  They  that  tarry  long  at  the  wine;  at  the  last  it  hiteth  like  a 

serpent  and  sting  eth  like  an  adder.    Pro  v.  xxiii.  29,  30, 32. An 

idle  son  shall  suffer  hunger.     Pro  v.  xix.  16. 


THE    PICTURE    PREACHER.  247 

fish  that  swim  in  the  sea,  and  even  reptiles  which  crawl 
in  the  sea  and  over  the  land. 

By  his  luxurious  habits  he  brings  on  himself  various 
diseases,  such  as  the  gout,  etc.,  which  causes  much  suf- 
fering and  misery,  shortening  his  life ;  in  one  sense, 
may  be  said  to  dig  his  grave  by  his  teeth. 

We  cannot,  if  we  will,  make  om'selves  torpid  like  an 
oyster.  We  must  needs  be  doing  something  with  our 
existence,  or  endure  else  a  wearisome  load,  as  inde- 
scribable as  it  is  intolerable.  Indeed,  occupation  of 
some  kind  or  other  is  necessary  to  human  quiet ;  life 
itself  is  burdensome  w^ithout  it.  For  shoii:  as  life  is, 
there  are  but  few  who  never  complain  at  heart  of  the 
superfluity  of  their  time.  Whereas  the  wdghts,  great  and 
small,  who  have  nothing  at  all  to  do,  are  for  the  most 
part  perpetually  uttering  this  most  dolorous  kind  of  com- 
plaint, or  at  least,  manifest  no  ordinary  degree  of  rest- 
lessness— being  burdened  wdth  their  time  much  more 
than  the  most  busy  are  burdened  with  their  business. 

^'  There  is  scarcely  any  truth  more  certain  or  more 
evident,"  says  a  writer  who  was  possessed  of  a  personal 
knowledge  of  the  splendid  group  whose  picture  he  has 
delineated,  ^4han  that  the  noblesse  of  Europe  are,  in 
general,  less  happy  than  the  common  people.  There 
is  one  irrefragable  proof  it,  w^hich  is  that  they  do  not 
maintain  tlieir  own  population.  FamiHes,  like  stars  or 
candles,  which  you  will,  are  going  out  continually ; 
and  without  fresh  recruits  from  the  plebeians,  the  nobil- 
ity would  in  time  be  extinct.  If  you  make  allowances 
for  the  State,  which  they  are  condemned  by  themselves 
to  support,  they  are  poorer  than  the  poor — deeply  in 
debt — and  tributary  to  usurious,  greedy  capitalists.^ 

The  misery  of  idleness  is  to  be  seen  nearly  as  much 
in  high  lite  as  in  the  rags  and  filth  of  extreme  poverty 
In  Europe  there  are  classes  of  people  who  are  idle,  as 
it  were,  out  of  necessity  j  not  that  they  are  unable  to 
find  employment,  but  they  are  unable  to  find  such  em  • 
plojTuent  as  they  think  comports  with  their  dignity. 


248  ROYAL   ROAD    TO    HAPPINESS;    OR 

Manual  labor  of  any  kind  would  degrade  them ;  nor 
does  the  condition  of  their  rank  allow  them  to  enter 
into  trade,  or  even  to  embrace  any  of  the  learned  pro- 
fessions. The  result  of  this  is,  that  quite  a  portion  of 
the  nobility  are  idlers,  a  wretched  class  of  worthless 
beings. 

Those  who  are  rich,  or  become  so,  and  especially 
their  children,  are  placed  in  an  unfortunate  and  dan- 
gerous situation.  Too  proud  and  perhaps  too  lazy  to 
work  with  their  own  hands,  as  commanded,  they  be- 
come gentlemanly  idlers — worthless,  miserable,  and 
unhappy  beings.  Having  no  higher  aspirations  than 
merely  to  gratify  their  animal  appetites,  they  lead  a 
beast's  life  ;  they  become  addicted  to  luxurious  habits, 
which  bring  on  various  diseases  by  their  intemperance  in 
eating  and  drinking.  In  the  engraving  affixed  to  this 
subject  are  seen  two  of  the  victims  of  high  living, 
afflicted  with  the  gout,  rather  of  a  fashionable  disorder 
among  what  are  called  the  upper  classes.  These  suf- 
fering creatm'es,  by  their  luxurious  and  intemperate 
living,  bring  upon  themselves  disorders,  from  which  the 
laboring  common  class  of  people  are  mostly  free. 

It  is  the  misfortune  of  high  rank  and  great  wealth 
that  the  children  of  families  so  distinguished  are  often 
treated  as  helpless  till  they  become  so  in  reality.  They 
must  have  waiters  to  do  for  them  a  multitude  of  little 
things  which  it  would  be  greatly  for  their  benefit  to  do 
for  themselves. 

Does  it  add  to  the  happiness  of  such  children  to  be 
thus  treated  ?  Certainly  not.  The  nature  of  this  kind 
of  training-up  is  to  make  them  helpless,  discontented, 
peevish  and  querulous  all  their  lives,  even  though  for- 
tune should  never  forsake  them.  And  if  they  chance 
to  fall  into  poverty,  they  are  wretched,  no  less  incapa- 
ble than  unwilling  to  earn  a  livelihood  by  industry. 
Beside  they  are  apt  to  become  socially  castaways,  their 
former  associates  in  luxurious  living  passing  them  with 
little  or  no  notice. 


THE    PICTURE    TREACHER.  249 

SOLOMON  THE  KING. 

One  of  the  most  prominent  events  to  be  noticed  in 
the  history  of  Solomon  is  his  building  the  temple  at 
Jerusalem,  which  went  by  his  name.  This  sacred 
building  was  situated  on  a  hill,  the  top  of  which  was 
hardly  large  enough  for  the  purpose,  for  all  the  sides 
were  like  precipices.  Solomon  therefore  threw  up 
banks  and  leveled  the  surface,  so  it  became  a  large 
plain  on  the  top  of  the  hill.  The  Jews  built  a  wall 
from  the  bottom  around  three  sides  of  the  temple  ;  they 
then  filled  the  upper  and  lower  courts  with  cloisters,  etc. 
The  temple  is  described  as  one  of  the  most  magnificent 
and  richly  adorned  structures  ever  erected. 

Solomon  commenced  his  reign  under  many  favor- 
able circumstances,  and  everything  promised  well  for 
the  future.  That  he  was  truly  pious  in  the  earlier 
period  of  his  life  there  appears  to  be  no  doubt.  God 
appeared  to  Solomon  in  a  dream  when  in  Gibeon,  and 
asked  him,  ^'  What  shall  I  give  tliee  f'  Solomon  in  his 
answer  said,  **  Thou  hast  made  thy  servant  king.  .  .  . 
I  am  but  a  little  child ;  I  know  not  how  to  go  out  or 
come  in,  and  thy  servant  is  in  the  midst  of  thy  people. 
....  Give,  therefore,  thy  servant  an  understand- 
ing heart  to  judge  thy  people,  that  I  may  discern  be- 
tween good  and  bad ;  for  who  is  able  to  Judge  so  great 

a    people The    speech    pleased    the    Lord. 

....  And  God  said  unto  him.  Because  thou  hast 
asked  this  thing,  ....  and  hast  not  asked  for 
long  life  ....  nor  riches,  nor  for  the  life  of 
thine  enemies,  ....  so  I  have  given  thee  a  wise 
and  understanding  heart,  so  that  there  was  none  like 
thee  before  thee,  neither  after  shall  any  arise  like  unto 
thee.  And  I  have  given  tliee  that  which  thou  liast  not 
asked,  both  riches  and  honor,  so  that  there  shall  not  be 
among  the  kings  like  unto  thee  all  thy  days.'^ 

Seven  years  and  six  months  were  occupied  in  the 
erection  of  the  temple,  many  parts  of  which  were  over- 

11* 


SOLOMON  THE  KING. 


Solomon  began  to  build  the  house  of  the  Lord ....  seven  years 

was  he  in  building  it     1  Kings  vi.  1,  38. And  the  King  said 

.  .  .  give  her  the  living  child ....  she  is  the  mother.     1  Kings  iiL 

25-27. -When  Solomon  had  made  an  e?id  of  praying  ....  ^6 

arose  from  before  the  altar . . .  with  his  hands  spread  up  to  heaven, 

1  Kings  viii.  54. The   Queen  of  Sheba.     1  Kings  x.  1,  2. 

Solomon  went  after  Ashtoreth  .  .  .  and  after  Milcom  the  abomina- 
tion of .  ,  ,  Ammon  .  .  .  and  Solomon  did  evil     1  Kings  xi.  5,  6. 


THE    PICTURE    PREACHER  251 

laid  with  plates  of  gold.  When  completed  it  was  ded- 
icated with  peculiar  solemnity  to  the  worship  of  the 
Most  High.  The  Ark  of  God  was  brought  from  the 
place  where  it  remained  during  David's  time,  in  the 
city  of  David,  and  placed  in  the  temple.  Here  also 
were  put  the  materials  of  the  old  tabernacle,  used  from 
the  time  of  Moses,  that  they  might  never  be  employed 
for  any  common  purposes ;  and  all  the  holy  vessels 
were  carefully  lodged  here — that  is,  the  candlestick, 
the  shew -bread  table,  the  incense  table,  etc.  Solomon 
himself  led  the  devotions  of  the  thousands  of  Israel. 
As  soon  as  the  priests  had  settled  the  ark,  the  Levites 
with  instruments  sounded  the  praise  of  the  Lord, 
together  with  the  singers.  The  Lord  accepted  their 
service,  and  filled  the  house  with  the  cloud  of  His 
glory  so  often  seen  in  the  days  of  Moses.  Solomon 
blessed  the  congregation;  he  spread  forth  his  hands 
toward  heaven  and  implored  the  Divine  blessing. 

The  wisdom  which  was  granted  to  Solomon  was  not 
confined  to  the  art  of  government ;  he  appears  to  have 
possessed  an  universal  knowledge.  The  sages  of  the 
East  were,  it  is  said,  distinguished  for  their  knowledge 
of  human  nature,  from  which  they  derived  a  vast 
number  of  maxims,  proverbs,  instructive  fables,  etc.,  of 
which  it  is  probable  a  great  number  remain  locked  up 
in  the  languages  of  Asia  It  appears  that  Solomoji 
wrote  many  books,  of  which  very  few  remain.  It  is 
said  in  1  Kings  iv.  32,  that  he  spake  tlu'ce  thousand 
proverbs,  and  his  songs  were  a  thousand  and  five.  Ex- 
tracts only  are  given  from  the  three  thousand  proverbs. 
Of  the  thousand  and  five  songs  we  know  absolutely 
nothing.  **  His  knowledge  in  natural  history"  (says 
Dr.  Clarke,  the  commentator),  '*must  have  been  very 
extensive  ;  it  is  said,  *  He  spake  of  trees,  from  tlie  cedar 
of  Lebanon  even  to  the  hyssop  that  springe th  out  of 
the  wall.  He  spake  also  of  beasts,  of  fowls,  of  reptiles, 
and  of  fishes.'  All  this  knowledge  has  perished ;  his 
coimtrymen,  the  prophets  excepted,  were  without  taste, 


252  ROYAL   ROAD   TO   HAPPINESS;    OR 

and  took  no  pains  to  preserve  what  they  did  not  relish 
....  As  a  mcjral  philosopher,  the  author  of  the 
Book  of  Ecclesiastes  occupies  no  mean  rank."  The 
proofs  of  Solomon's  judicial  wisdom  lie  in  a  very  small 
Compass  in  the  Bible ;  his  decision  between  the  two 
harlots  is  almost  the  only  instance. 

During  Solomon's  highest  prosperity  the  fame  of  his 
wisdom  and  magnificence  having  reached  the  Queen  of 
Sheba  (supposed  to  be  Abyssinia,  which  was  south  of 
Canaan),  she  resolved  to  travel  into  his  dominions  to 
see  him,  and  according  to  the  custom  of  the  East,  she 
prepared  a  number  of  difficult  questions  and  riddles  to 
put  to  Solomon  to  find  out  whether  he  was  as  wise  as 
had  been  reported.  She  came  to  Jerusalem  with  a  very 
great  train,  with  camels  that  bare  spices  and  very  much 

gold, and  when  she  came  to  Solomon  she 

communed  with  him,  ....  and  Solomon  told  all 
her  questions;  there  was  not  anything  hid  from  the 
King  which  he  told  her  not."  And  when  the  Queen 
had  seen  all  Solomon's  wisdom,  and  the  house  he  had 
built,  the  meat  of  his  table,  his  servants,  ministers,  their 
apparel,  .  .  .  ^^  behold  the  half  was  not  told  me,  .  .  . 
thy  wisdom  and  prosperity  exceeds  the  fame  which  I 
heard."  According  to  the  custom  of  the  times,  the 
Queen  gave  Solomon  a  present  of  one  hundred  and 
twenty  talents  of  gold  (nearly  three  millions  of  dollars), 
and  of  spices  and  precious  stones. 

Solomon  at  this  period  became  very  rich,  as  it  is 
stated  that  he  ^^  exceeded  all  the  kings  of  the  earth  for 
riches  and  wisdom.  The  weight  of  gold  that  came  to 
him  was  six  hundred  and  sixty-six  talents  of  gold.  He 
had  a  navy  of  Tarshish,  with  a  navy  of  Hiram,  who 
brought  him  gold  from  Ophir,  precious  stones,  etc.,  in 
great  abundance.  The  large  quantities  of  the  precious 
metals  accumulated  by  David  and  imported  from  Ophir 
and  other  places  must  have  proved  an  immense  source 
of  wealth.  All  the  kings  and  princes  of  the  subject 
provinces  paid  tribute  in  the  forms  of  gifts,  in  money, 


THE   PICTURE    PREACHER.  253 

and  in  kind,  at  a  fixed  rate  year  by  year.  Monopolies 
of  trade  contributed  to  the  King's  treasury.  The  do- 
main lands  appear  to  have  been  let  out  at  a  fixed 
annual  rent. 

The  cost  of  the  temple,  it  is  true,  was  provided  by 
David's  savings  and  offerings  of  the  people  ;  but  even 
while  that  was  building  Solomon  commenced  a  sys- 
tem of  lavish  expenditure,  which  he  continued  after- 
wards. The  expense  he  incurred  on  the  temple  was 
small  compared  with  that  incurred  by  erecting  his  own 
house,  called  the  house  of  the  forest  of  Lebanon,  which 
cost  an  incredible  sum,  and  consumed  thirteen  years, 
nearly  twice  the  time  employed  in  erecting  the  temple. 
Solomon's  efforts  to  sustain  royal  magnificence  and 
splendor  was  one  of  the  causes  of  the  ruin  of  himself 
and  people. 

Solomon,  so  distinguished  for  the  gifts  given  him, 
was  in  some  respects  placed  on  the  same  level  with  the 
rest  of  mankind.  God  is  no  respecter  of  persons.  He 
was  placed  here  like  the  rest  of  us  in  a  state  of  trial. 
If  he  had  much  given  him,  of  him  much  was  required, 
and  in  the  great  day  he  will  be  judged  according  to 
his  works.  He  appears  to  have  fallen  from  God  by 
his  love  of  strange  women,  most  of  whom  were  idol- 
aters. It  is  stated  that  he  had  seven  hundred  wives 
and  three  hundred  concubines.  This  was  directly 
contrary  to  the  command  of  God,  who  warned  him  if 
he  followed  after  other  gods  he  ^' would  cut  off  Israel 

out  of  the   land, and   this   house  which   I 

have  hallowed  for  my  name  will  I  cast  out  of  my 
sight,  and  Israel  shall  be  a  proverb  and  a  by-word 
among  all  people." 

**  Solomon  dild  in  almost  the  flower  of  his  age,  and, 
it  appears,  unregretted.  His  government  was  no  bless- 
ing to  Israel ;  and  laid,  by  its  exactions  and  oppres- 
sions, the  foundation  of  that  schism  or  revolt  of  the 
ten  tribes,  which  took  place  after  his  death,  so  fatal  to 
the  unhappy  people  of  Judah  and  Israel,  and  it  was  the 


254        ROYAL  ROAD  TO  HAPPINESS;  OR 

most  powerful  procuring  cause  of  the  miseries  which 
have  ikllen  upon  the  Jewish  people  from  that  time  to 
the  present." 

With  regard  to  the  final  state  of  Solomon,  religious 
writers  have  been  much  divided.  It  appears  in  the 
ancient  churches,  that  Chrysostom  and  the  theologians 
were  for  the  most  part  favorable  in  their  opinion,  and 
those  of  the  Latin,  Augustine  with  others,  were  adverse 
to  his  salvation.  An  able  commentator,  when  speaking 
of  Solomon  when  sacrificing  to  the  gods  of  his  strange 
wives,  exclaims,  ^^  To  what  a  state  of  blindness  and 
fallacy  must  this  man  have  been  brought,  before  he 
could  have  been  capable  of  such  acts  as  these !  0 
Lucifer,  son  of  the  morning,  how  art  thou  fallen !" 


GREAT    IMPORTANCE  OF    LITTLE    THINGS 
IN   SOCIAL  LIFE. 

The  commerce  of  neighborly,  social  life  is  canned 
on  chiefly  by  small  change.  Vast  favors  are  seldom 
bestowed,  and  heavy  obligations  are  seldom  incurred. 
It  is  the  constant  interchange  of  little  obliging  atten- 
tentions  that  constitute  connubial  happiness. 

This  springs  from  an  uninterrupted  series  of  little  acts 
of  mutual  kindness,  light  as  air  of  themselves,  and  cost- 
ing little  or  nothing,  but  of  immeasurable  importance 
in  their  consequences,  as  they  furnish  the  only  kind 
of  food  that  will  long  sustain  that  delicate  kind  of 
friendship,  and  as  the  absence  of  these  small  attentions 
occasions,  first  coldness,  then  distrust,  and  finally 
alienation. 

Setting  aside  the  brutish  and  the  dissolute  part  of 
community,  wives  and  husbands  disagree  oftener,  by 
much,  about  trifles,  than  about  things  of  real  weight. 
Perhaps  nine  in  ten  of  their  disputes  and  squabbles 
grow  out  of  little  things,  such  as  trivial  neglects,  petty 
faults,  or  a  word  unkindly  spoken.     Nay,  merely  a 


THE    PICTURE    PREACHER.  255 

hard  look,  sometimes  lays  the  foundation  of  a  hard 
quarrel.  A  husband  never  can  please  his  wife  any 
longer  than  his  general  conduct  evinces  that  he  is,  in 
most  respects,  well  pleased  with  her ;  and  so  vice  versa. 
A  loving  wife  will  forgive  any  fault  in  her  husband 
quicker  than  the  loss  of  his  love  for  her. 

If  we  extend  our  view  to  the  larger  circle  of  social 
intercourse,  which  comprehends  relations,  friends,  and 
acquaintance  of  every  kind  and  degree,  we  shall  find 
that  the  frequent  interchange  of  courteous  attentions 
and  petty  kindnesses,  is  the  thing  that  keeps  them  uni- 
ted together  and  pleased  with  each  other ;  and  that  in 
default  of  this,  they  presently  lose  all  relish  for  one 
another's  company.  The  truth  is,  as  our  tempers  are 
oftener  ruffled  by  trifles  than  by  things  of  moment,  so, 
on  the  other  hand,  our  affections  are  more  won  by  a 
long  series  of  trivial  obligations,  than  by  one  single 
obligation,  however  great. 

Man,  put  him  where  you  will,  is  a  proud-hearted 
little  animal.  And  hence  we  become  attached  to  those 
who  are  in  the  habit  of  treating  us  as  if  they  thought  us 
worthy  of  their  particular  notice  and  regard,  and  at  the 
same  time  cold  and  secretly  resentful  toward  such  as 
habitually  neglect  us  in  these  little  points  ;  even  though 
the  former  never  have  done  us  a  single  important  fa- 
vor, and  the  latter,  in  some  one  instance  or  other,  have 
essentially  befriended  us. 

With  regard  to  neglects  and  trespasses  in  those  lit- 
tle things  which  constitute  the  main  substance  of  social 
life,  the  worst  of  it  is,  that  they  are  incapable  of  free 
discussion;  and,  of  course,  the  wounds  from  them  ad- 
mit of  no  healing.  We  are  deeply  touched  with  omis- 
sions or  slights,  for  wliich  it  would  be  ridiculous  to 
expostulate  or  complain.  They  leave  a  sting,  which 
secretly  rankles  in  our  memories  and  festers  in  our 
imaginations,  and  inwardly  we  feel  sore,  while  we  are 
ashamed  to  fret  outwardly:  the  cause  of  our  provoca- 
tion being  an  undefinable,  nameless  something,  upon 


256        ROYAL  ROAD  TO  HAPPINESS;  OR 

which  we  never  can  ask  for  an  explanation,  and  conse- 
quently can  never  obtain  any  satisfaction,  which  can 
seem  at  all  adequate. 

True  enough,  all  this  is  often  ill-grounded,  or  the 
offspring  of  mere  jealousy.  But  that  makes  the  case 
the  more  remediless ;  for  ill-grounded  enmities  are  the 
most  obstinate ;  because,  as  their  causes  exist  alto- 
gether, or  chiefly,  in  the  imagination,  the  imagination 
is  ever  busy  in  coloring  and  magnifying  them; 
whereas,  when  the  offence,  though  real,  is  of  a  defi- 
nite form  and  shape,  it  may  be  got  over. 

I  have  seen  two  friends  dispute  and  quarrel  vio- 
lently about  an  affair  of  moment,  and  then  settle  it, 
and  presently  become  as  kind  and  loving  together  as 
ever ;  and  I  have  seen  other  two  friends,  who  never 
quarrelled  together  at  all,  become  first  cold,  and  at 
last  utterly  estranged,  by  reason  of  a  neglect  or  slight, 
on  the  one  side  or  the  other,  which,  of  itself,  was  too 
trivial  to  be  so  much  as  mentioned  to  the  offending 
party. 

There  are  those  who  ^re  willing  to  oblige,  but  are 
unwilling  to  receive  obligations,  though  never  so  small, 
in  any  way  or  in  anything ;  and  they  boast  of  it  as  a 
noble  quality.  But  whatever  they  may  think  them- 
selves, they  violate,  in  this  respect,  the  general  law  of 
social  commerce,  which  requires  some  degree  of  reci- 
procity, or  a  mutual  exchange  of  commodities.  One 
who  is  in  the  way  of  often  receiving  from  another,  lit- 
tle kindnesses,  which  he  is  never  permitted  to  requite, 
sinks  into  a  dependent,  and  his  nominal  friend  is  not 
indeed  a  friend,  properly  speaking,  but  a  patron.  The 
show  of  utter  averseness  to  being  obliged  in  any  case 
whatever,  is  commonly  understood  aright ;  it  is  taken 
for  pride,  or  contempt,  or  coldness,  and  naturally  gives 
displeasure,  while,  on  the  contrary,  to  accept  of  little 
obligations  with  frankness,  and  to  be  alike  willing  to 
oblige  and  to  be  obliged,  is  the  proper  line  of  social 
intercourse. 


THE   PICTUEK   PKEACHEK. 


257 


:  I  MM  iviV:!i!i.r.i."'-jj 


5$f:-^D::-^^7^iMS! 


False  friends  leave 
wlun  trouble  comes. 


^"*  ••■<'*--— -.rr 


TWO  TRAVELERS  AND  THE  BEAR. 


Confidence  in  an  unfaithful  man  in  time  of  trouble  is  like  a 

broken  tooth  and  a  foot  out  of  joint.     Prov.  xxv.  19. It  is 

better  to  trust  in  the  Lord  than  to  'put  confidence  in  man  ,  ,  »  , 

than  to  put  confidence  in  princes.      Psa.   cxvi.    8,   9. The 

hireling  fieeth  because  he  is  a  hireling^  and  careth  not  for  the 

sheep.     John  x.  13. A  brother  is  born  for  adversity.    Prov. 

xviL  17. 


258  ROYAL    ROAD    TO    HAPPINESS;    OR 

TWO  TRAVELERS  AND  THE  BEAR. 

Two  men  being  about  to  travel  through  a  forest 
together,  mutually  promised  to  stand  by  each  other,  in 
any  danger  they  should  meet  upon  the  way.  They 
had  not .  gone  far  before  a  bear  came  rushing  toward 
them  out  of  a  thicket ;  upon  which,  one  being  a  light, 
nimble  leilow,  got  up  into  a  tree ;  the  other  falling  flat 
upon  his  face  and  holding  his  breath,  feigning  the 
appearance  of  death  as  much  as  he  could,  as  it  is  said 
a  bear  will  not  touch  a  dead  body.  The  bear  came  up 
and  smelled  at  him,  but  that  creature  supposing  him  to 
be  a  dead  carcass,  went  back  again  into  the  wood  with- 
out doing  him  the  least  harm.  When  all  was  over,  the 
fellow  who  had  climbed  the  tree  came  down  to  his 
companion  and  with  a  pleasant  smile,  asked  him  what 
the  bear  said  to  him,  *^  for,"  says  he,  ^^  I  took  notice 
that  he  clapped  his  mouth  very  close  to  your  ear," 
"  Why,"  replies  the  other,  ^^he  charged  me  to  take  care 
for  the  future  not  to  put  any  confidence  in  such  cow- 
ardly chaps  as  you  are." 

Application. — Though  nothing  is  more  common 
than  to  hear  people  profess  services  of  friendship, 
where  there  is  no  occasion  for  them,  yet  scarce  any- 
thing is  so  hard  to  be  found  as  a  true  friend  who  w  ill 
ass\st  us  in  the  time  of  danger  and  difficulty.  All  the 
declarations  of  kindness  which  are  made  to  an  expeii- 
enced  man,  though  accompanied  by  the  squeeze  of  the 
hand,  and  a  solemn  asseveration,  should  leave  no 
greater  impression  upon  his  mind  than  the  whistling  of 
the  hollow  breeze  which  brushes  one's  ears  with  an  un- 
meaning salute,  and  is  presently  gone.  He  that  suc- 
cors our  necessity  by  a  well-timed  assistance,  though 
it  were  not  ushered  in  by  previous  compliments,  will 
ever  after  be  looked  upon  as  our  friend  and  protector ; 
and  in  so  much  a  greater  degree,  as  the  favor  was  un- 
asked and  unpromised.  Depend  upon  the  old  proverb, 
"A  friend  in  need,  is  a  friend  indeed." 


THE   PICTURE    PEEACHEE.  259 

LEARNING  CHILDREN  TO  LIE. 

"To  be  branded  with  the  name  of  liar 
Is  ignominy  fit  for  slaves  alone." — Sophocles, 

This  was  the  sentiment  of  an  ancient  Greek  poet  of 
great  and  deserved  fame.  The  ancient  Persians  were 
at  great  pains  to  habituate  their  children  to  speak  the 
truth,  and  thought  this  a  main  point  in  their  education. 
The  old  Greeks  and  Romans  considered  lying  so  infa- 
mous as  to  degrade  a  freeman  to  a  level  with  their 
slaves.  The  Turks  are  a  truthful  people,  and  hold  a 
liar  in  utter  abhorrence.  And,  indeed,  by  a  sort  of 
general  consent  in  most  parts  of  the  world,  a  notorious 
liar  is  excluded  from  good  society. 

It  is  not  my  purpose,  however,  to  treat  here  of  the 
vice  itself,  but  to  suggest  means  to  prevent  its  growing 
into  a  habit  with  young  children.  For,  I  am  confi- 
dent :  first,  that  few,  if  any,  have  become  notorious  for 
lying  who  did  not  begin  to  learn  it  while  young ;  and 
second,  that  few  childi-en,  if  any,  are  deeply  initiated 
in  this  black  art  unless  through  the  fault  of  those  who 
have  had  the  immediate  care  of  them.  Truth  is  as 
easily  spoken  as  falsehood ;  and  the  habit  of  speaking 
the  truth,  when  once  fixed,  is  perhaps  nearly  as  hard 
to  be  broken  off  as  the  habit  of  lying.  They  both 
grow  into  habits  by  degrees,  and  most  commonly 
according  to  the  management  and  moulding  of  early 
childhood. 

Tell  me  not  that  there  is  in  some  children,  even  in 
some  little  children,  such  a  strong  propensity  to  lying 
that  the  habit  is  not  preventable  by  any  human  means. 
How  many  thousand  Pagans  (the  old  Persians,  for 
instance)  had  taken  such  pains  with  their  children  in 
this  particular  that,  among  them  all,  a  single  liar  was 
scarcely  known.  And  it  is  hard  to  tell  why  Christian 
parents  and  instructors  might  not  be  equally  successful 
if  they  would  only  use  the  same  prudence  and  unweari- 
ble  diligence. 


260  ROYAL    ROAD    TO    HAPPINESS;    OR 

Some  parents  among  us  unwittingly  lead  their  chil- 
dren to  lie.  The  child,  be  it  supposed,  begins  to  lie 
ere  it  can  fairly  be  regarded  as  a  moral  agent  In 
such  a  case — and  such  cases  are  not  uncommon — it  is 
diverting,  particularly  to  parents,  to  hear  the  cunning 
little  thing  fib.  "  And  where  is  the  harm  ?"  But  they 
wofully  err  The  harm  lies  here :  The  fibbing  child, 
though  only  three  or  four  years  old,  is  now  beginning 
to  be  fashioned  to  the  awful  habit  of  lying. 

Others  again,  indirectly  learn  their  little  children  to 
lie,  by  passing  deceptions  upon  them.  Now  every  de- 
ception that  is  passed  upon  the  child  goes  to  learn  the 
child  to  deceive. 

Finally,  some  so  keenly  mark  and  so  severely  pun- 
ish even  the  petty  faults  of  children,  that  they  are 
strongly  tempted  to  a  denial  of  the  truth,  whenever 
they  see  the  least  chance  of  escape  by  that  means; 
and  thus  they  begin  to  get  the  habit  of  lying,  as  it  were 
in  their  own  defence. 

To  learn  children  to  despise  and  detest  falsehood  and 
prevarication  is  among  the  good  seed  that  should  be 
sown  in  their  minds,  so  as  to  prevent,  if  possible,  their 
ever  uttering  a  willful  falsehood,  or  at  least,  to  cure  the 
evil  at  its  first  budding ;  else  the  force  of  habit  being 
superadded  to  vicious  propensities  of  nature,  a  cure  will 
be  doubly  difficult,  and  next  to  hopeless. 

Great  care  should  be  taken,  not  only  that  children 
be  not  led  into  temptation  to  this  pernicious  evil,  but, 
also,  that  they  be  early  and  constantly  guarded  against 
it  by  all  prudent  means,  and  be  made  to  get  the  habit 
of  honestly  speaking  the  truth  on  every  occasion.  Be 
not  overmuch  prying  and  severe  in  regard  to  the  mere 
frailties  common  to  childhood.  Many  things  you  must 
overlook,  or  not  seem  to  observe,  unless  you  would 
render  your  government  over  your  children  both  odious 
and  contemptible  by  your  perpetual  chiding.  Never 
deceive  your  children  in  word  or  deed.  Never  fail  to 
reprove^  them  seriously  for  any  and  every  act  of  false- 


THE   PICTURE   PREACHER.  261 

hood  or  equivocation  that  you  find  them  guilty  of; 
however  much  your  vanity  may  be  flattered  with  the 
cunning  and  dexterity  of  the  little  deceivers.  When- 
ever they  frankly  own  a  fault,  while  you  blame  them 
for  the  fault,  forget  not  to  commend  them  for  speaking 
tlie  truth  about  it 


DAVID,   KING  OF   ISRAEL. 

In  the  engraving,  David  is  first  seen  as  a  shepherd's 
boy,  attending  his  father's  flock.  The  harp  at  his  side 
is  indicative  of  his  genius  as  a  poet  and  musician.  He 
next  appears  as  a  hero,  standing  over  the  body  of 
Goliath,  having  his  sword  in  one  hand  and  his  head  in 
the  other.  The  next  scene  above,  Saul,  the  father-in- 
law  of  David,  attempts  to  kill  him.  David  and  Jona- 
than, his  friend,  are  seen  together  in  the  central  part  of 
the  engraving.  David  is  seen  above  with  a  piece  of 
Saul's  garment  in  his  hand,  having  spared  his  life. 
David,  having  fallen  into  sin,  is  reproved  by  Nathan 
the  prophet.  He  is  next  seen  flying  barefoot  from 
Absalom,  his  son,  who  is  seen  beyond  being  killed  by 
Joab.  David,  having  given  his  dying  charge  to  Solo- 
mon, slept  with  his  fathers,  and  was  buried  in  the  city 
of  David. 

Few  persons  who  have  lived  in  this  world  have  such 
an  eventful  life  as  did  David,  the  king  of  Israel,  through 
the  many  vicissitudes  through  which  he  passed.  He  first 
appears  in  history  as  a  shepherd's  boy,  apparently  in  a 
humble  situation,  contributing  to  the  suppoii;  of  a  nu- 
merous family,  of  which  he  formed  a  part,  by  keeping 
the  sheep  of  his  father  in  the  wilderness  or  champaign 
country,  in  the  vicinity  of  Bethlehem. 

The  occupation  of  a  shepherd  in  such  a  rocky  and 
mountainous  country  as  Judea,  required  considerable 
skill,  courage  and  strength,  as  the  flock  must  be  led  in 
and  out  to  find  proper  pasture.     They  also  had  to  be 


DAVID,  KING  OF  ISRAEL. 


And  Samuel  said  unto  Jesse^  aire  here  all  thy  children  f 

there  yet  remaineth  the  youngest ,  ,  ,  he  keepeth  the  sheep.     I.  Sam. 

xvi.  1 1 . David  took  aharp  and  played  with  his  hand.     I.  Sam. 

xvi.  23. David  prevailed  over  the  Philistine  with  a  sling  and 

with  a  stone.  .  .  .  and  cut  off  his  head.     I.  Sam.  xvii.  50,  51. 

The  sweet  psalmist  of  Israel.     II.    Sam.  xviiL    1. God  is  my 

strength  and  power  ....  He  teacheth  my  hands  to  war  . .  .  I  have 
pursued  mifie  enemies  and  have  destroyed  them.     11.  Sam.  xxii.  33, 

38. And  the  elders  of  Israel  came  to  David  in  Hebron 

and  they  made  Da/oidking  over  Israel.    IL  Sam.  v.  3. 


THE    PICTURE    PREACHER.  263 

defended  against  wild  beasts.  In  addition  to  tliis,  the 
land  was  infested  by  robbers  who  committed  depreda- 
tions among  the  flocks.  It  appears  from  ancient  his- 
tory that  the  office  of  a  shepherd  among  the  Jews  was 
of  importance,  as  most  of  their  property  consisted  of 
flocks.  It  therefore  required  a  person  of  good  natural 
parts  and.  education,  trustworthy  and  courageous. 
These,  most  evidently,  were  all  combined  in  the  char- 
acter of  David. 

David's  skill  in  music  was  proverbial.  In  this  art  he 
appears  to  have  excelled  all  others  at  the  age  in  which 
he  lived,  so  as  alone  to  acquire  the  character  of  the 
"  sweet  singer  of  Israel."  King  Saul,  being  troubled 
with  an  evil  spirit,  his  servants  advised  him  to  send  for 
David  who,  by  playing  on  a  harp  before  him,  would 
cause  him  to  get  well.  David  accordingly  was  sent 
for.  His  success  in  quieting  the  turbulent  and  maniacal 
spirit  of  Saul  by  his  performances  on  the  lyre  or  harp 
stands  strongly  marked  in  his  history. 

David,  as  a  hero,  in  the  common  use  of  the  word, 
was  distinguished  for  bravery.  His  off'ering,  when  a 
boy,  to  fight  with  Goliath  the  famous  giant,  champion 
of  the  Philistines,  is  full  proof.  Goliath  defied  the  army 
of  Israel,  and  challenged  them  to  produce  a  man  to 
fight  with  him,  so  that  the  contest  could  be  decided. 
This  he  continued  to  do  for  forty  days.  Saul,  though 
a  man  of  great  personal  courage,  together  with  the 
whole  Israelitish  army,  were  greatly  dismayed  at  this 
challenge. 

David,  having  come  into  the  camp  with  provisions 
for  his  brothers,  hearing  Goliath's  challenge,  felt  im- 
pelled to  meet  him  in  combat.  Having  obtained  the 
consent  of  Saul,  he  took  five  smooth  stones  and  a  sling 
and  ran  to  meet  the  Philistine,  saying  "  I  come  in  the 
name  of  the  Lord  of  hosts  .  .  .  who  will  deliver  thee 
into  my  hand.  .  .  I  will  smite  thee,  and  take  thy  head 
from  thee  .  .  .  for  the  battle  is  the  Lord's."  David 
then  slang  a  stone  which  entered  his  forehead,  and  he 


264  ROYAL   ROAD   TO   HAPPINESS;   OB 

fell  to  the  earth ;  and  then  David  took  the  Philistine's 
sword  and  cut  off  his  head. 

By  the  above  exploit  David  must  have  aiTived  at  the 
height  of  renown,  as  far  as  military  glory  is  concerned, 
and  the  king's  daughter  is  given  him  in  marriage. 
New  scenes  now  await  him ;  he  is  soon  initiated  into 
the  miseries  of  a  high  or  royal  life.  Saul,  his  father- 
in-law,  though  head  and  shoulders  above  other  men  as 
to  personal  appearance,  had  a  small,  contracted  soul, 
and  was  meanly  jealous  of  the  rising  popularity  of 
David,  and  endeavors  to  kill  him. 

David  is  obliged  to  flee  from  one  hiding  place  to 
another.  He  is  befriended  by  Jonathan,  Saul's  son, 
with  whom  he  is  most  closely  and  tenderly  united  in 
friendship.  Saul  still  kept  up  his  chase  after  David 
who,  coming  suddenly  upon  him  when  asleep,  might 
have  killed  him  according  to  the  laws  of  waro  He 
would  not  do  this,  but  cut  off  the  skirt  of  Savil's  robe 
and  when  at  a  suitable  distance  called  after  him,  hold- 
ing up  the  skirt  he  had  cut  off.  The  selfish  soul  of 
Saul  was  much  moved  at  the  generosity  of  David  in 
sparing  his  life,  and  wept,  saying,  ^^  thou  hast  rewarded 
me  good  for  evil." 

David  having  subdued  his  enemies  and  become  es- 
tablished as  king,  was  overcome  himself  by  the  temp- 
tation of  a  beautiful  woman,  Bathsheba,  the  wife  of 
Uriah,  his  faithful  servant.  This  woman  evidently 
exposed  her  person  while  washing  herself  to  the  sight 
of  David,  to  attract  his  attention ;  he  sent  for  her  to 
come  to  his  house.  Adultery  was  committed,  and  both 
their  lives  were  forfeited  to  the  law  of  God.  David,  to 
cover  up  his  crime,  and  to  secure  Bathsheba  solely  to 
himself,  caused  the  death  of  Uriah  by  sending  him  to 
the  front  of  the  battle,  that  he  might  be  certainly  slain. 

Nathan  the  prophet  was  sent  by  the  Lord  to  utter 
a  parable,  which  caused  David  to  condemn  himself. 
Nathan  then  denounced  the  judgments  of  God  against 
him,  all  of  which  came  to  pass.     ^^  David  sinned  most 


THE    PICTURE    PREACHER.  265 

sorely,  and  most  sorely  was  punished  for  it ;  he  sowed 
one  grain  of  sweet,  and  reaped  a  long  harvest  of  ca- 
lamity and  woe. 

On  the  right  side  of  the  upper  part  of  the  engrav- 
ing David  is  seen  with  his  companions  fleeing  out  of 
Jerusalem  up  mount  Olivet,  with  their  heads  covered 
and  barefoot  They  are  fleeing  from  Absalom,  David's 
rebellious  and  ungodly  son,  whose  final  fate  is  shown 
by  his  hanging  to  a  tree  and  being  dispatched  by  Joab. 
David  finally  died  in  peace  and  slept  with  his  fathers, 
having  reigned  over  Israel  forty  years. 

As  a  warrior,  or  military  leader,  David  was  a  re- 
markable man.  When  he  was  obliged  to  flee  from  the 
court  of  Saul  and  become  an  exile  in  the  wilds  of  the 
country,  he  was  under  the  necessity  of  associating  him- 
self with  men  of  desperate  fortunes  and  worthless 
character.  These,  to  the  number  of  four  hundred,  he 
so  disciplined  and  managed  as  to  repress  their  lawless 
propensity  to  plunder  and  rapine,  so  that  they  never 
went  on  any  expedition  that  was  not  under  his  direc- 
tion ;  they  made  no  inroads  but  what  tended  to  benefit 
his  countrymen.  So  complete  was  his  authority  over 
his  men  that  none  dared  to  take  even  a  sheep  or  kid 
from  the  flock  of  any  man.  On  the  contrary,  they 
were  the  protectors  of  the  numerous  herds  which  fed 
in  those  parts  of  the  wilderness  where  they  sojourned. 

David's  natural  courage,  heightened  by  his  constant 
dependence  on  God,  never  forsook  him,  and  he  was 
always  invincible.  He  was  the  life  of  his  kingdom 
and  the  soul  of  the  army.  He  had  the  ablest  generals, 
and  had  the  address  to  form  a  multitude  of  heroes  like 
himself 

**The  highest  merit  of  David,"  says  Dr.  Clarke  in 
his  Commentary,  "was  his  poetic  genius.  As  a  divine 
poet,  even  God  himself  had  created  none  greater, 
either  before  or  since  .  .  .  The  sublimity,  the  depth, 
the  excursive  fancy,  the  discoursive  power,  the  vast 
compass  of  thought,  .  .  .  the  knowledge  of  heaven  and 

12 


266  BOYAL   ROAD    TO    HAPPINESS;    OR 

earth,  of  God  and  nature,  .  .  .  the  poetry  of  the  poet,  not 
the  fiction  of  the  inventive  genius,  but  the  production 
of  truth  hidden  before  in  the  bosom  of  God  and  nature, 
and  exhibited  in  the  most  pleasing  colors  and  impres- 
sive pathos  and  diction.  .  .  .  These  qualities  are  found 
in  no  other  poet  in  the  annals  of  the  world ;  they  only 
in  their  perfection,  only  in  David,  king  of  Israel." 

*^  Tlie  matter  of  Batlisheba  and  Uriah  are  almost  his 
only  blot.  There  he  sinned  deeply,  and  no  man  ever 
suffered  more  in  his  body,  soul,  and  domestic  affairs 
than  he  did.  His  penitence  was  as  deep  and  extraor- 
dinary as  his  crime,  and  nothing  could  surpass  both  but 
that  eternal  mercy  tliat  took  away  the  guilt,  assuaged 
the  sorrow,  and  restored  this  most  humbled  transgres- 
sor to  character,  holiness,  happiness  and  heaven." 


ST.  PAUL'S  PATHWAY. 

On  the  right  of  the  engraving,  Paul  the  Pharisee 
appears  a  persecutor  of  the  Christians,  assisting  at  the 
stoning  of  Stephen  and  keeping  the  raiment  of  those 
that  slew  him.  When  on  his  way  to  Damascus,  having 
the  authority  from  the  chief  priests  to  seize  all  those 
who  called  on  the  name  of  Christ,  he  is  suddenly  ar- 
rested by  an  overpowering  light  from  heaven,  which 
struck  him  to  the  ground,  when  he  heard  a  voice  say- 
ing unto  him,  ^^  Saul,  Saul,  why  persecutest  thou  me  I" 
To  which  he  answered,  *^  Who  art  thou.  Lord?"  and 
he  said,  "  I  am  Jesus  of  Nazareth,  whom  thou  perse- 
cutest." Trembling,  astonished  and  convicted,  Paul 
said,  ^^  Lord,  what  wilt  thou  have  me  to  do  ?"  And  the 
Lord  answered  and  told  him  to  go  into  the  city,  and  it 
should  be  told  him  what  he  must  do. 

Paul  and  Barnabas,  with  others,  after  laboring  among 
their  brethren,  were  directed  to  go  to  the  more  remote 
Gentiles  and  preach  the  Gospel.  Their  mission  was 
attended  with  much  success,  though  they  were  opposed 


OF  mn 

UNIVERS: 


ST.  PAUL'S  PATHWAY. 


After  the  strictest  sect  of  our  religion^   I  lived  a  Pharisee. 

Acts  xxvi.  5 And  when  the  blood  of  thy  martyr  /Stephen  was 

shed,  I  also  was  standing  by,  and  consenting  unto  his  death,  and 

kept  the  raiment  of  them  that  slew  him.     Acts  xxii.  20. 1  saw 

in  the  way  a  light  from  heaven, .  .  .  .  /  heard  a  voice  ....  J"  am 
Jesus  ....  stand  on  thy  feet ....  I  have  appeared  ....  To  make 
thee  a  minister  .  .  .  unto  the  Gentiles,  unto  whom  now  1  send  thee. 

Acts  xxvi.  13,  14,  16,  17. The  minister  of  Jesus  Christ  to  the 

Gentiles.     Romans  xv.  16. They  caught  Paul  and  Silas  .... 

thrust  them  into  the  inner  prison,  and  made  their  feet  fast  in  the 

stocks.    Acts  xvi.  1 9,  24. Jam  now  ready  to  be  offered,    2  Tim, 

iv.  6, 


268  ROYAL   ROAD   TO   HAPPINESS;   OB 

by  many  of  their  countrymen.  When  at  Philippi,  in 
Macedonia,  Paul  cast  out  an  evil  spirit  from  a  young 
woman,  a  soothsayer,  which  gave  great  offense  to  her 
masters,  as  by  the  spirit  of  divination  she  brought 
them  great  gam  ;  they  therefore  caught  Paul  and  Silas 
and  brought  them  to  the  magistrates,  with  the  charge 
that  they  exceedingly  troubled  the  city;  whereupon 
the  magistrates  rent  their  clothes  and  commanded  them 
to  be  scourged  or  beaten,  then  thrust  into  prison,  and 
their  feet  set  fast  in  the  stocks. 

At  midnight  Paul  and  Silas  prayed,  and  the  prisoners 
heard  them.  And  suddenly  there  was  an  earthquake, 
so  that  the  foundations  of  the  prison  were  shaken ;  and 
all  the  doors  were  opened  and  every  one's  bands  were 
loosed.  The  jailer  waking  out  Of  sleep,  seeing  all  the 
doors  open,  supposing  the  prisoners  had  fled,  would  have 
killed  himself,  but  Paul  cried  out,  ^'We  are  all  here." 

Thereupon  the  jailer  sprang  in  and  came  trembling 
and  fell  down  before  Paul  and  Silas  and  brought  them 
out,  and  said,  *'  Sirs,  what  must  I  do  to  be  saved  ?" 
They  told  him  to  believe  on  the  Lord,  and  thou  and  thy 
house  shall  be  saved.  This  they  did,  and  showed  the 
apostles  the  utmost  kindness.  The  magistrates  being 
alarmed  at  putting  such  men  in  prison,  entreated  them 
to  depart  in  peace. 

St  Paul  appears  to  have  been  eminently  fitted  for 
the  apostleship  of  the  Gentiles,  to  contend  with  and 
confute  the  grave  and  wise,  the  acute  and  the  most 
subtle  minds  of  the  entire  heathen  world.  He  seldom 
made  use  of  learning  and  philosophy,  it  being  more 
agreeable  to  the  design  of  the  Gospel  to  confound 
the  wisdom  and  learning  of  the  world  by  the  plain 
doctrine  of  the  Cross.  He  was  possessed  of  true  humil- 
ity of  mind,  and  though  when  he  had  to  deal  with 
inalicious  adversaries,  who  endeavored,  by  defaming 
his  person,^  to  obstruct  his  ministry,  he  knew  how  to 
magnify  his  office,  and  to  let  them  know  that  he  was 
not  inferior  to  the  chiefest  of  the  apostles  ;  yet  at  other 


THE    PICTUEE    PREACHER.  269 

times  he  declared  to  the  world  that  he  considered  him- 
self ^*  the  least  of  the  apostles,  not  meet  to  be  called  an 
apostle,"  because  he  had  persecuted  the  Church  oi  God, 
and  had  shed  the  blood  of  the  Saints  because  of  their 
fidelity  to  the  Lord. 

His  kindness  and  chanty  were  remarkable  ;  he  had  a 
compassionate  tenderness  for  the  poor,  and  a  quick 
sense  for  the  wants  of  others.  To  make  provision  for 
the  poor,  he  stirred  up  the  rich  and  wealthy  to  give  of 
their  substance ;  he  also  worked  with  his  own  hands, 
not  only  to  maintain  himself,  but  also  to  help  and  re- 
lieve the  poor.  His  zeal  for  God  was  as  great  as  his 
charity  for  men.  Wlien  at  Athens  he  saw  the  people 
given  up  to  superstition  and  idolatry,  he  in  a  most 
masterly  manner  reproved  their  folly  in  worshiping  the 
work  of  men's  hands,  and  preached  that  God  com- 
manded all  men  everywhere  to  repent. 

The  apostle,  in  summing  up  his  labors  and  sufferings, 
says:  ^^ In  labors  abundant,  in  stripes  above  measure, 

in  prisons  frequent,  in  death  oft, in  perils 

among  false  brethren,  in  weariness  and  painfulness,  in 
watchings  often,  in  hunger  and  thirst,  in  fastings  often, 

in  cold  and  nakedness,  and  besides  this, the 

care  of  all  the  churches."  When  Paul  was  first  sent 
to  Rome  as  a  prisoner,  he  was  allowed  to  dwell  in  his 
own  hired  house,  having  a  soldier  to  guard,  being  fast- 
ened to  him  by  a  chain.  He  was  allowed  to  preach 
Christ  to  all  who  came  to  him,  and  many  were  con- 
verted to  Christianity.  He  also  wrote  several  epistles 
to  the  churches.  About  A.  D.  65  he  was  imprisoned  at 
Rome  by  the  Emperor  Nero,  and  being  a  Roman  citi- 
zen^ suffered  death  by  being  beheaded.  In  the  prospect 
of  immediate  death  he  could  say :  *^  I  have  fought  a 
good  fight,  I  have  finished  my  course,  I  have  kept  the 
faith ;  henceforth  there  is  laid  up  for  me  a  crown  of 
rigliteousness,  which  the  Lord,  the  righteous  judge, 
shall  give  me  at  that  day  ;  and  not  to  me  only,  but  unto 
all  them  love  his  appearing." 


270  ROYAL    ROAD    TO    HAPPINE^;    OR 

PAUL,   SILAS  AND  THE  JAILER. 

"  There  is  not  such  a  pictorial  work  in  the  world," 
says  a  certain  divine,  "as  the  Bible."  "Its  pictures 
never  grow  old ;  they  are  suited  alike  for  the  young 
and  the  aged.  Let  the  reader  fix  his  eyes  on  the 
broad  surface  of  one  page  of  God's  holy  Word,  and 
there  he  will  behold  a  grand  series  of  dissolving  views, 
which  excite  wonder,  nourish  hope,  and  call  forth  loud 
praises." 

When  Paul  and  Silas  were  at  Philippi  they  were 
much  annoyed  by  a  female  oracle  or  fortune-teller  who 
had  acquu-ed  great  reputation  for  wonderful  predic- 
tions and  discoveries,  etc.  She  appears  to  have  been 
a  slave  and  "  brought  her  masters  much  gain  by  sooth- 
saying." Being  moved  by  some  evil  spirit  even  to  tell 
the  truth  in  order  to  bring  discredit  on  the  apostles  she 
followed  them  crying  out,  "  These  men  are  the  servants 
of  the  Most  High  God  which  show  unto  us  the  way  of 
Salvation."  Paul  being  grieved  that  such  creatures 
should  speak  in  his  name,  commanded  the  evil  spirit 
to  come  out  of  her.  Her  masters  seeing  this  was  done, 
caught  Paul  and  Silas,  brought  them  before  the  magis- 
trates and  stirred  up  the  whole  city,  and  then  scourged 
and  thrust  them  -into  the  inner  prison. 

At  midnight  another  scene  opens.  Paul  and  Silas 
are  now  praying  and  singing  praises.  "  Though  these 
holy  men  had  felt  much,  and  had  reason  to  fear  more, 
yet  they  were  undismayed  and  even  happy  in  then* 
sufferings,  being  fully  satisfied  they  were  right  and  had 
done  their  duty ;  that  there  was  no  room  for  regret  or 
self-reproach.  At  the  same  time  they  had  such  con- 
solation from  God  as  could  render  any  circumstances 
not  only  tolerable  but  delightful.  And  although  they 
were  in  the  inner  prison,  they  sang  so  loud  the  prison- 
ers heard  them,  wondering,  perhaps,  why  it  was  that 
these  ill-used  men,  with  their  lacerated  bodies,  and  the 
painful  situation  of  their  limbs  in  the  stocks,  could  raise 


THE   PICTURE   PREACHER. 


271 


PAUL,  SILAS  AND  THE  JAILOR. 


They  caught  Paul  and  Silas  .  .  .  laid  many  stripes  iipon  them : 
.  .  .  the  jailor  thrust  them  into  the  inner  prison.  ,  .  .  At  midnight 
they  prayed  and  sang  praises  to  God.  ....  Suddenly  there  wa^  a 
great  earthquake  :  the  foundations  of  the  prison  were  shaken,  the 
doors  were  opened,  and  every  one'*s  bands  were  loosed.  ....  The 
jailor  sprang  in  with  a  light,  came  trembling,  and  fell  down  before 
Paul  and  Silas,  and  said,  what  must  I  do  to  be  saved?  .  .  .  They 
said,  believe  on  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ .  .  .  they  spake  to  all  in  his 
house  ....  they  were  baptized ....  believing  in  God  with  all  his 
house.     Acts  xvi.  19-34. 


272        ROYAL  ROAD  TO  HAPPINESS;  OR 

such  joyful  notes  of  praise  and  thanksgiving  in  a  dun- 
geon at  midnight. 

But  hark !  and  behold  a  new  scene  takes  place — God 
now  bears  a  miraculous  testimony  of  approbation  to 
his  servants.  A  great  earthquake  shakes  the  founda- 
tions of  the  prison,  its  doors  are  all  opened,  the  chains 
of  the  prisoners  fall  off.  The  jailer  is  thoroughly 
awakened,  and  seeing  all  the  doors  opened,  supposing 
the  prisoners  had  all  fled,  and  if  so,  his  own  life  would 
be  forfeited ;  but  preferring  to  die  by  his  own  hands  to 
those  of  others,  drew  out  his  sword,  and  would  have 
killed  himself  Paul,  in  the  darkness  of  the  inner  prison, 
having  a  divine  intimation  of  what  he  was  about  to  do, 
cried  out  with  aloud  voice,  ^^  Do  thyself  no  harm  ;  for 
we  are  all  here."  The  jailer  hearing  Paul's  voice, 
called  for  a  light,  sprang  to  the  prison  treml^ling,  being 
convinced  that  some  divine  power  was  present,  pros- 
trated himself  before  Paul  and  Silas,  saying,  '^  Sirs, 
what  must  I  do  to  be  saved  ?" 

The  last  act,  or  scene,  here  presented,  shows  the  in- 
iquitous magistrates  coming,  as  it  were,  confessing  their 
crime  of  seizing  innocent  men,  scourging  them  as  vile 
criminals,  throwing  them  into  prison,  and  putting  their 
feet  into  the  stocks.  All  these  indignities  were  strictly 
forbidden  by  the  laws  by  which  these  men  professed  to 
be  governed.  St.  Paul  was  a  Roman  citizen,  and  as 
such  it  was  a  transgression  even  to  bind  him.  To  beat 
and  scourge  him  was  considered  a  great  ciime  and 
insult  to  the  majesty  of  the  Roman  people. 

These  unprincipled  magistrates  became  alarmed  when 
they  understood  w^hom  the  men  were  they  had  so  un- 
justly condemned  and  punished  without  giving  ahearing. 
Paul  had  demanded  that  the  magistrates  should  come 
themselves  and  let  them  out  of  prison.  This  was  a 
great  humiliation  for  their  persecutors.  Paul  and  Silas 
were  thus  publicly  vindicated.  The  means  used  to 
prevent  their  preaching  of  the  Gospel  was  the  means 
of  extending  it  more  widely.     Thus  the  ^^  WTRth  of  man 


THE    PICTURE    PREACHER.  273 

praised  God,  and  tlie  remainder  he  did  restrain."  Never 
were  these  words  more  exactly  fulfilled  than  on  this 
occasion. 

Seldom  does  such  an  opportunity  of  preaching 
Christ's  gospel  occur.  The  next  scene  that  opens  shows 
Paul  and  Silas  preaching  to  a  deeply  interested  audi- 
ence. The  jailer  and  all  his  family,  moved  by  the 
terrors  of  the  Almighty,  were  now  assembled  before 
the  two  apostles.  The  prisoners  also  may  be  consid- 
ered as  part  of  the  audience,  as  all  their  prison  doors 
were  opened,  their  chains  fell  off,  but  by  the  overruling 
of  God's  providence  none  attempted  to  make  their 
escape.  They  were  as  deeply  interested  in  the  mes- 
sage of  the  apostles  as  were  the  jailer  and  his  family. 
The  effect  was  most  glorious.  The  jailer  and  all  his 
family  believed  on  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  and  made  a 
public  profession  of  it  by  being  baptized  in  His  name. 

We  see  in  the  next  scene  presented  these  Christian 
converts  doing  works  meet  for  repentance.  We  see 
them  doing  acts  of  mercy  and  kindness.  The  prison- 
ers Paul  and  Silas  were  taken  out  in  the  same  hour  of 
the  night,  and  the  blood  washed  from  their  stripes,  and 
the  jailer  brought  them  into  his  own  apartments,  set 
meat  before  them,  as  they  must  have  been  hungry  and 
exhausted.  As  the  apostles  had  been  the  instruments 
of  health  to  the  souls  of  the  jailer  and  his  family,  so 
now  they  could  be  instruments  of  health  to  their 
bodies.  Genuine  faith  in  Christ  will  be  always  accom- 
panied with  benevolence  and  humanity,  and  every  fruit 
such  dispositions  produce. 

God's  great  teachers  are  great  events  and  great  men. 
These  are  inseparable  in  the  world's  history.  When- 
ever the  good  cause  is  helped  forward,  and  a  new  era 
is  inaugurated  in  human  society,  you  are  sure  to  find 
some  great  soul,  armed  with  the  best  weapon  of  his 
age,  moving  at  the  head  of  advancing  columns,  and 
making  room  for  the  new  evangel. 

When  such  an  one  comes  fully  into  the  world,  the 

12* 


274  KOYAL    ROAD    TO    HAPPINESS;    OR 

race  goes  down  on  its  knees  before  him,  and  listening 
to  his  words,  leams  the  secret  which  God  has  com- 
manded him  to  reveal.  These  revealments  are  the 
great  principles  that  make  up  the  warp  of  society. 
They  are  essential  to  its  union  and  compactness.  They 
are  the  bonds  of  compactness  between  remote  ages  and 
widely  separated  peoples.  It  inheres  in  their  great- 
ness; belongs  to  all  times  and  places.  Toussaint 
I'Overture,  in  his  dungeon  appealing  to  the  old  Napo- 
leon in  the  ever  memorable  words,  ^^  The  greatest  of 
the  Blacks  to  the  greatest  of  the  Whites,"  stands  in  the 
judgment  of  mankind  on  the  same  level  with  his  cap- 
tor ;  for  history  is  unable  to  distinguish  between  that 
dungeon  in  the  Alps  and  that  prison  island  under  the 
equator. 

FORCE  OF  PREJUDICE. 

The  engraving  represents  an  occurrence  which  took 
place  in  Hartford,  Conn.,  about  the  year  1820,  which 
came  under  the  notice  of  the  compiler  of  this  work, 
who  at  that  time  lived  in  the  vicinity.  It  illustrates 
the  force  of  an  unreasonable  prejudice  against  colored 
people,  which  almost  universally  prevailed  in  all  parts 
of  our  country  at  that  period. 

A  young  colored  man,  a  tailor  by  trade,  from  one 
of  the  West  India  Islands,  hired  a  room  on  Main  street, 
and  put  out  his  sign-board,  as  he  had  a  perfect  right 
to  do.  Some  of  the  other  tailors,  not  willing  that  a 
negro  should  enjoy  the  same  right  as  themselves  to 
make  clothes  for  the  public,  took  measures  to  get  rid 
of  his  presence.  Not  wishing  to  be  known  as  the  doers 
of  a  dirty  job,  they  disguised  themselves,  and  under 
the  darkness  of  night,  mounted  a  ladder  and  daubed 
a  coat  of  paint  over  the  offensive  sign.  In  the  general 
state  of  feeling  at  that  time  it  was  probable  that  the 
great  body  of  the  people,  the  unthinking  multitude, 
rejoiced  and  laughed  over  the  mean  and  cowardly  affair. 


THE   PICTURE   PREACHER. 


275 


FORCE  OF  UNREASONABLE  PREJUDICE. 


Thou  shalt  neither  vex  a  Btranger^  nor  oppress  him.     Exod.  xx. 

21. Though  the  Lord  be  high^  yet  hath  he  respect  unto  the  lowly, 

Psa.  cxxxviii.  6. Thou  shalt  not  wrest  judgment:  thou  shalt 

not  respect  persons.     Deut.  xviii.   19. Why  dost  thou  set  at 

naught  thy  brother?    Rom.  xiv.  10. God  is  no  respecter  of 

persons.     Acts.  x.  34, And  hath  made  of  one  blood  all  nations 

of  men  for  to  dwell  on  all  the  face  of  the  earth.     Acts  xvii.  26. 

But  ye  have  despised  the  poor.     James  ii.  6. But  if  yt 

have  respect  to  persons  ye  commit  sin,    James  ii  9, 


276  ROYAL   ROAD    TO    HAPPINESS;    OR 

Most  of  the  public  men  in  office,  and  politicians  who 
were  seeking  it,  must  have  known  it  was  against  law 
and  against  all  the  principles  by  which  they  professed 
to  be  governed.  But  nothing  was  done  by  them  to 
bring  the  offenders  to  justice.  Yet  there  were  some 
honorable  exceptions.  The  weak,  oppressed  in  every 
Christian  community,  when  the  occasion  calls  for  it 
will  find  some  friends.  **  Their  strength  is  in  their 
weakness."  Every  humane  heart  beats  in  sympathy 
for  the  weak  and  struggling.  On  this  occasion  the 
West  Indies  tailor  found  a  friend  in  General  Nathaniel 
Terry,  a  gentleman  of  the  highest  social  position,  his 
mansion  the  abode  of  princely  hospitality,  who  nobly 
came  forward,  and  in  terms  of  fiery  indignation  de- 
nounced the  outrage.  Not  only  this,  but  he  at  once 
started  for  the  establishment  of  the  abused  man,  and 
thenceforth  gave  him  his  custom.  That  he,  the  most 
elegant  gentleman  of  their  city,  described  in  Dwight's 
Grenealogy  as  *^  the  handsomest  man  in  Connecticut," 
of  tall  and  commanding  presence,  ever  scrupulously 
punctilious  in  his  dress,  should  employ  "  that  nigger" 
to  make  his  clothing,  must  have  been  a  good  lesson  to 
some  of  the  more  "  common  sort." 

One  of  the  surprising  things  to  our  contemporaries 
in  the  civilized  world  is  the  extreme  prejudice  against 
the  African  race  existing  in  our  country,  especially  in 
the  Northern  States.  This  is  held  in  spite  of  the  re- 
peated declarations  we  have  made  to  the  world,  ^^ Equal 
and  exact  justice  to  all  men,  of  whatever  state  or  per- 
suasion, religious  or  political." 

It  is  indeed  surprising  that  Christian  professors,  many 
of  whom  are  examples  of  a  Christian  life  in  almost 
every  respect,  should  violate  the  Clmstian  principles  in 
regard  to  tlieir  treatment  of  persons  of  color.  A  man 
is  what  God  mad  him,  and  to  despise  him  for  what  he 
cannot  help  is  a  reflection  on  Deity  himself 

On  account  of  the  color  of  their  skin,  a  large  class 
of  our  people  have  been  a  proscribed  race,  cut  off  from 


THE   PICTURE    PREACHER.  277 

privileges  enjoyed  by  others,  however  degraded  and 
worthless  and  disgusting  these  may  have  become. 
Even  the  attempts  of  the  blacks  to  improve  their  con- 
dition have  been  frowned  upon,  and  these  were  uni 
formly  refused  admission  to  the  higher  schools  and 
colleges ;  more  shameful  still,  in  the  assemblies  to 
worship  our  common  Father  they  were  in  many  in- 
stances put  into  the  negro  pew,  built  expressly  for  them 
in  some  obscure,  distant  comer  of  the  house  of  God, 
as  though  they  were  unfit  to  be  among  otlier  people. 
It  was,  however,  observed  that  they  could  be  easily 
admitted  if  they  came  among  them  as  servants,  but  on 
no  account  must  they  come  in  as  equals. 

It  is  no  very  uncommon  thing  for  a  person  to  have 
a  good  creed,  and  profess  to  practice  it.  The  question 
may  be  put  to  them,  as  it  was  to  some  preachers  in  the 
apostolic  times:  *^Thou  who  preachest  that  a  man 
should  not  steal,  dost  thou  steal  f  Thus  showing 
at  these  early  times  that  a  man^s  preaching  might  be 
much  better  than  his  practice. 

Notwithstanding  many  things  exist  in  our  world 
which  present  a  dark  and  threatening  aspect,  yet  it 
may  be  said  indications  are  all  around  us  of  great  good 
for  the  coming  future.  Chattel  slavery,  the  cause  of 
much  evil  among  the  civilized  nations,  has  received  its 
death  blow  by  its  abolition  in  the  United  States. 
Christianity  is  extending  to  every  part  of  the  globe, 
accompanied  with  its  institutions  of  science  and  learn- 
ing. Useful  inventions  to  promote  the  well  being  and 
happiness  of  mankind  are  rapidly  accumulating,  human 
rights  are  better  understood,  and  bloody  despotism  is 
everywhere  on  the  wane. 

Since  the  abolition  of  slavery  in  the  United  States 
the  doors  of  our  highest  literary  institutions  are  begin- 
ning to  be  opened  to  all  persons  who  wish  to  acquire 
the  benefits  of  a  liberal  education,  without  any  regard 
to  race  or  color. 

A  citizen  who  had  a  son  at  one  of  our  very  highest 


278        ROYAL  BO  AD  TO  HAPPINESS;  OR 

colleges,  happening  to  learn  that  they  had  admitted  a 
negro  on  equal  terms  with  white  scholars,  felt  some  alarm 
lest  his  son  might  be  placed  in  association  with  him,  and 
therefore  he  earnestly  requested  that  this  might  not  be 
done.  ^*  You  need  not  fear  from  that  source,"  replied 
the  Professor,  *^as  the  colored  young  man,  from  his 
superior  scholarship,  has  been  advanced  to  the  highest 
division,  while  your  son  still  remains  where  he  was — in 
the  lowest." 

*^  Poisonous  prejudices,"  says  Mrs.  L.  Maria  Child, 
^^  against  nations,  races,  sects  and  classes,  are  often 
instilled  by  thoughtless,  incidental  expressions.  There 
is  education  for  evil  in  the  very  words  *  Nigger,' 
'  Paddy,'  '  Old  Jew,'  '  Old  Maid,'  etc."  It  is  recorded 
of  the  Rabbi  Sera,  that  when  he  was  asked  how  he 
had  attained  to  such  a  serene  and  lovable  old  age,  he 
replied:  ^^I  have  never  rejoiced  at  any  evil  which 
happened  to  my  neighbor,  and  I  never  called  any 
man  by  a  nickname  given  to  him  in  derision  or  sport." 


EARLY   DESIRE   FOR  POWER. 

The  love  of  power  shows  itself  in  the  first  dawn  of 
reason.  How  soon  the  infant  begins  to  struggle  to 
have  his  will  and  way  !  Ere  he  can  speak  ot  walk,  in 
the  tone  of  his  cry  and  in  his  visage  and  motions  you 
may  plainly  read  the  stout  words — I  will  and  I  wont. 
By  some  means  he  has  found  his  way  into  a  closet 
where  the  family  stores  are  kept.  He  is  helping  him- 
self without  stint  to  whatever  he  likes.  His  mother, 
seeing  her  darling  is  exposed  to  a  surfeit  or  something 
worse,  forcibly  takes  him  away  and  holds  him  fast  in 
her  arms,  as  is  seen  in  the  engraving.  He  squirms  and 
kicks  in  order  to  free  himself  from  his  mother,  so  that 
he  can  regale  himself  at  the  closet.  But  if  she  is  faith- 
ful to  her  trust,  holds  him  fast,  and  prevents  him  from 
having  his  will. 


THE    PICTUEE    PEEACHER. 


279 


Even  a  child  is  known  by  his  doings  whether  his  works  bepure^  or  whether  it  be  right. 

Prov.  XX.  11. 

EARLY  DESIRE  FOR  POWER. 


TTie  wicked  are  estranged .  .  .  thej/  go  astray  as  soo7i  as  they  he 

horn,  speaking  lies,     Psa.  Iviii.  3. I'he  imagination  of  man's 

heart  is  evil  from  his  youth.     Geo.  viii.  21. Withhold  not  cor- 
rection from  the  child:  fur  if  thou  heatest  him  with  the  rod,  he  shall 

not  die.     Prov.  xxiii.  13. We  all  had  our  conversation  in  times 

past  in  the  lusts  of  our  flesh,  fulfilling  the  desires  of  the  flesh  and 
of  the  mind ;  and  were  hy  nature  the  children  of  wrath  even  as 

others        pb.  ii.  3. Chasten  thy  son  while  there  is  hope^  and  let 

not  thy  soul  spare  fx^r  his  crying,     Prov.  xix,  18. 


L» 


280  BOYAL   BOAD   TO   HAPPINESS;    OB 

If,  on  tlie  other  hand,  his  mother  is  so  unwise  as  to 
let  him  have  his  will,  he  soon  strives  to  extend  his  do- 
minion. He  expects  of  the  other  children,  and  of  all 
about  him  an  implicit  compliance  to  his  will.  When 
opposed  or  thwarted  he  acts  as  though  it  was  down- 
right rebellion  against  his  rightful  authority,  and  ac- 
cordingly swells  with  rage,  which  he  deals  out  by 
blows,  or  vents  off  in  harsh  and  grating  music. 

Moreover,  among  the  earliest  of  his  covetings  is  that 
of  property.  It  is  quite  common  for  little  children  to 
ask  with  peculiar  earnestness,  ^*may  we  have  this  for 
our  own  ?"  Nor  are  they  willing  to  take  with  anything 
short  of  such  a  covenant.  And  why  is  it  that  they  are 
so  fain  to  have  it  as  their  own  ?  It  is  because  property 
is  power.  One  has  exclusive  power  over  that  which  is 
exclusively  his  own ;  of  this  matter  of  fact,  the  child  of 
four  seems  almost  as  sensible  as  the  man  of  forty,  and 
hence  it  is,  I  conceive,  that  our  desire  for  property — 
which  is  another  name  for  power — begins  even  in  in- 
fancy, and  enlarges  as  our  years  increase.  So  true  is 
it  that  the  passion  for  power  is  a  ruling  passion  in 
human  nature. 

A  question  arises  here  as  to  the  bearing  that  early 
education  and  discipline  should  have  the  predominant 
passion  or  principle  under  consideration — a  question  of 
vast  importance.  In  weeding  a  garden  we  take  great 
care  lest  with  the  weeds  we  root  up  also  some  precious 
plant.  In  like  manner  should  we  endeavor  to  weed,  as 
it  were,  the  faults  out  of  the  minds  of  our  children, 
looking  diligently  that  we  neither  spoil  or  mar  what 
the  Eternal  Wisdom  has  planted  in  them,  or  any  part 
of  the  natural  constitution  of  their  frame.  Then  as  the 
love  of  power  is  a  part  of  the  radical  constitution  of 
the  man,  the  proper  method  of  education  is  not  to  erad- 
icate, but  to  temper  and  curb  it. 

This  species  of  discipline  should  be  begun  at  a  very 
early  age,  and  managed  with  a  firm  and  prudent  hand. 
It  is  a  task  which  chiefly  devolves  upon  the  mother.    As 


THE   PICTURE   PREACHER.  281 

soon  as  her  infant  oiFspring  appears  to  set  up  a  resolu- 
tion for  the  mastery,  she  has  no  alternative  but  either 
to  conquer  or  submit,  for  there  is  no  such  thing  as  bal- 
ancing or  dividing  the  power  between  them.  If  she 
submit  for  the  first  time  it  prepares  the  way  for  a 
second  defeat — indeed,  for  an  endless  series  of  sub- 
missions, as  the  child  in  such  a  case  constantly  becomes 
more  refractory  and  usurping,  and  she  more  tame, 
yielding  and  slavish.  Thus  she  nurses  up  not  so  much 
a  son,  as  an  imperious  master.  But  provided  the 
mother  begins  betimes  and  manages  the  matter  with 
discretion,  she  may  subdue  the  infant  to  her  authority, 
and  that  without  overmuch  correction,  even  though  she 
had  to  encounter  a  more  than  ordinary  obstinacy  of 
temper  which,  so  far  from  being  an  ill  symptom  in 
children  might,  by  proper  curbing  and  cultiu-e,  be  made 
to  eventuate  in  great  good. 

The  strife  for  the  mastery,  as  I  said  before,  begins 
in  the  cradle,  and  if  not  properly  decided  and  settled 
there  it  will  be  full  likely,  as  years  increase,  to  assume 
frightful  shapes.  For  the  contentions  of  little  children, 
first  with  their  mothers,  afterwards  with  one  another, 
are  the  germs,  as  it  were,  of  the  contentions  of  grown 
men,  which  fill  the  earth  with  violence  and  blood. 

Wherefore  nothing  of  human  means  would  perhaps 
so  much  conduce  to  the  future  peace  and  happiness  of 
mankind  as  to  break  children  of  a  domineering  spirit, 
to  weave  as  it  were,  into  their  tender  minds,  sentiments 
and  habits  of  mutual  deference,  civility  and  benevo- 
lence. If  it  were  made  a  great  part  of  education  (as 
assuredly  it  ought  to  be  of  Christian  education),  to 
learn  children  to  curb  their  wills,  and  respect  tlie  rights 
of  others,  an  auspicious  revolution  in  the  affairs  of  the 
human  race  might  reasonably  be  looked  for.  A  new 
and  happy  era  might  be  expected,  when  fighting  and 
killing  will  not  as  hitherto  be  the  main  subject  of  the 
history  of  man ;  when  the  fame  and  renown  of  men  will 
no  longer  be  built  on  the  destruction  of  their  fellow-men. 


282  BOYAL   ROAD   TO   HAPPINESS;    OR 

The  fighting  propensities  of  the  North  American 
Indians  are  developed  to  their  utmost  extent  from 
their  boys  in  childhood  having  no  curbs  put  upon 
tlieir  wills.  Their  mothers  are  not  allowed  to  punish 
them  for  any  transgression.  The  wife  of  an  American 
army  officer  on  our  frontier  was  punishing  her  refrac- 
tory son,  a  child  of  seven  years  of  age,  when  a  Brut^ 
Indian  who  was  present,  exclaimed  in  tones  of  mingled 
disgust  and  indignation:  ^^What!  wldte  squaw  whip 
young  brave  f^^ 


ABSALOM, 
The  Lying  and  Villainous  Office-Seekee. 

Absalom,  the  third  son  of  David,  comes  into  notice 
as  the  murderer  of  Amnon,  his  half-brother,  under  the 
guise  of  friendship.  It  is  true  that  Amnon  had  deeply 
injured  Tamar  his  sister.  But  after  brooding  over  the 
wrong  for  two  years,  Absalom  invited  all  the  King's 
sons  to  a  sheep-shearing  feast.  By  his  lying  hypoc- 
risy Amnon  was  induced  to  attend  with  the  rest  of  his 
brothers.  Breaking  all  rules  of  hospitality,  Absalom 
ordered  his  servants  to  kill  Amnon  when  he  became 
"merry  with  wine,"  which  having  been  done,  he  then 
immediately  fled  for  safety  to  his  grandfather's  court, 
where  he  remained  for  three  years. 

In  the  next  important  scene  in  Absalom's  life  he  ap- 
pears riding  in  his  chariot  in  kingly  splendor  into 
Jerusalem.  This  was  brought  about  by  the  artifice  of 
Joab,  in  connection  with  a  woman  of  Tekoah,  and 
others,  to  restore  him  to  his  country  and  the  forgive- 
ness of  his  father.  He,  however,  appears  to  have  been 
put  under  some  restrictions,  though  allowed  to  live  in 
Jerusalem.  At  last,  wearied  with  delay,  and  perceiv- 
ing that  his  exclusion  from  court  interfered  with  the 
ambitious  schemes  he  was  forming  to  attain  the  sover- 
eign power,  he  turned  an  office-seeker,  and  stopping  at 


ABSALOM,  THE  VILLAINOUS  OFFICE-SELKER. 


Absalom   invited  all  the  hinges  sons, ....  smite  Amnon  and 

kill  him,     2  Sam.  xiii.  23-28. And  Absalom  prepared  chariots 

and  horses  ....  and  said,  O  that  1  were  made  judge  in  the  land. 

2  Sam.  XV.  1-4. When  ye  hear  the  trumpet ....  ye  shall  say 

Absalom  reigneth.     2  Sam.  xv.  10. See  2  Sam.  xvi.  vs.  21,  22. 

And  Absalom  rode  ....  went  under  an  oak ....  his   head 

caught ....  Joab  ....  took  three  darts  ....  thrust  them  through 
the  heart  of  Absalom  .  .  , 
heap  of  stones  upon  him. 


cast  him  into  a  pit  and  laid  a  great 
2  Sam,  xviil  9,  14,  17. 


284  ROYAL   ROAD   TO   HAPPINESS;   OR 

nothing  which  would  impede  his  designs,  he  prepared 
for  rebellion,  urged  partly  by  his  restless  wickedness, 
partly,  perhaps,  by  the  fear  lest  Solomon  should  obtain 
the  succession  to  which  he  would  feel  himself  as  being 
entitled  as  David^s  eldest  son,  since  Chileab,  his  older 
brother,  was  probably  dead. 

Absalom  was  versed  in  the  arts  of  the  demagogue. 
It  is  said  that  he  *^  stole  the  hearts  of  the  men  of 
Israel.^'  He  did  not  gain  their  hearts  by  eminent  ser- 
vices, or  by  wise  and  virtuous  conduct.  But  he  affected 
to  look  great  as  heir  to  the  crown ;  and  yet  to  be  very 
condescending  and  affable  to  his  inferiors.  He  pre- 
tended a  great  regard  for  their  interests,  and  threw  out 
artful  insinuations  against  David's  administration.  He 
flattered  every  one  that  had  a  cause  to  be  tried,  that  he 
had  right  on  his  side,  that  if  it  went  against  him  he 
might  be  led  to  accuse  David  and  his  magnates  with 
injustice.  He  also  expressed  a  vehement  desire  to  be 
judge  over  the  land ;  and  suggested  that  the  trials  of 
cases  should  not  then  be  so  tedious,  expensive,  and  par- 
tially decided  as  they  were.  This  he  confirmed  by 
rising  early  and  giving  close  application,  though  it  was 
to  other  people's  business,  and  not  to  his  own  duty, 
that  he  applied  himself 

One  thing  which  probably  assisted  Absalom  in  steal- 
ing the  hearts  of  the  people  was  his  personal  beauty, 
as  the  great  mass  of  mankind  are  often  caught  and  led 
by  outward  appearances.  He  is  stated  to  be  the  hand- 
somest person  in  all  Israel,  ^^and  from  the  sole  of  his 
foot  even  to  the  crown  of  his  head  there  was  no  blem- 
ish in  him."  When  ambition  prompts,  the  most  self- 
indulgent  assume  the  appearance  of  diligence,  and  the 
most  haughty  that  of  affability  and  condescension. 

Such  fawning  politicians  are  peculiar  to  no  age  or 
nation.  They  make  their  way  by  openly  or  obliquely 
traducing  the  characters  or  censuring  their  rulers.  By 
joining  in  the  groundless  complaints  of  the  disaffected 
they  feed  their  discontent 


THE    PICTURE    PREACHER.  285 

No  villainy  can  be  termed  complete  which  is  not 
disguised  under  the  mask  of  religion,  so  Absalom  got 
peraiission  to  go  to  Hebron  to  pay  a  religious  vow 
which  he  made  when  in  a  heathen  country.  All  this 
was  a  mere  pretense  in  order  to  organize  the  more  per- 
fectly the  rebellion  against  his  venerable  father. 

When  Absalom  arrived  in  Jerusalem  he  was  joined 
by  Ahithophel,  who  appears  to  have  been  David's  min- 
ister. In  order  to  prevent  the  possibility  of  a  recon- 
ciliation between  David  and  his  son,  Ahithophel  advised 
the  infernal  measure  to  Absalom  to  go  in  unto  his 
father's  concubines  in  the  sight  of  all  Israel. 

This  advice  was  followed  without  hesitation,  although 
it  was  death  by  the  law  of  God.  In  these  ancient 
times  the  wives  of  the  conquered  king  became  the 
property  of  the  conqueror ;  but  for  a  son  to  take  his 
father's  wives  was  an  abomination  rarely  found,  even  in 
any  heathen  nation. 

David  having  passed  over  Jordan  with  his  devoted 
followers,  he  was  followed  by  Absalom,  and  a  conflict 
ensued.  Absalom  aimed  directly  at  the  life  of  his 
indulgent  father,  but  David  gave  particular  orders  to 
all  his  captains  to  deal  gently  to  his  wicked,  rebellious 
son ;  ^^  but  his  crimes,"  says  a  pious  commentator, 
^^  were  too  enormous  to  be  pardoned,  consistent  with 
David's  duty;  the  peace  of  Israel  could  not  be  estab- 
lished while  he  lived."  Perhaps  David  hoped  that  if 
Absalom  were  not  slain  in  battle,  he  might  live  to  re- 
pent, and  so  escape  future  vengeance.  But  if  he  had, 
he  would  have  occasioned  David  further  trouble  and 
sin ;  and  it  pleased  God  to  preserve  his  servant  from 
the  guilt  of  pardoning  him,  and  from  the  anguish  of 
punishing  him. 

The  battle  between  David  and  Absalom's  men  took 
place  in  the  wood  of  Ephraim,  and  the  Israelites  under 
Absalom  were  defeated  with  the  great  slaughter  of 
twenty  thousand  men.  Absalom,  mounted  on  a  mule, 
in  escaping  from  the  servants  of  David,  rode  imder  the 


286  ROYAL   ROAD   TO   HAPPINESS;    OR 

tWck  boughs  of  a  great  oak.  His  head  was  caught 
somehow  between  the  branches  so  that  he  could  not 
extricate  himself,  and  the  mule  that  was  under  him 
went  away,  and  he  was  left  hanging  between  the 
heavens  and  earth,  as  unworthy  of  either.  He  was 
discovered  by  one  who  brought  Joab  word  thereof, 
when  Joab  immediately  took  three  darts  and  thrust 
them  through  the  heart  of  Absalom  while  hanging  on 
the  tree.  His  body  was  taken  down  and  cast  into  a 
great  pit  in  the  wood. 

It  seems  that  Absalom's  sons  died  young,  as  a  just 
judgment  for  his  crimes,  and  that  after  their  death  he 
erected  a  magnificent  column  or  pillar,  in  which,  or 
near  which,  he  meant  to  be  interred ;  and  by  which  he 
meant  to  perpetuate  his  memory  with  honor  to  future 
generations.  Instead  of  this,  he  died  in  an  ignominious 
manner,  was  buried  in  a  deep  pit,  and,  in  detestation 
of  his  deep  villainy,  with  a  great  heap  of  stones  laid 
upon  him ;  and  his  pillar  near  Jerusalem  proved  a 
monument  of  his  folly  and  wicked  ambition. 


THE  INFIDEL  AND  THE   OEPHANS. 

A  mechanic  in  London,  who  rented  a  room  very 
near  the  Orphan  Working  School,  was  unhappily  a 
determined  infidel,  and  one  who  could  confound  many 
a  thoughtless  Christian  with  his  sophistical  reasonings 
on  religion.  He,  one  day,  however,  said  to  another 
man,  **  I  did  this  morning  what  I  have  not  done  for  a 
long  time  before — I  wept."  "  Wept  ?"  said  his  friend ; 
"  what  occasioned  you  to  weep  ?"  *^  Why,"  replied 
the  indfidel  mechanic,  ^'I  wept  on  seeing  the  children 
of  the  Orphan  Working  School  pass ;  and  it  occurred 
to  me  that,  if  religion  had  done  nothing  more  for  man- 
kind, it  had  at  least  provided  for  the  introduction  of 
these  ninety-four  orphans  into  respectable  and  honora- 
ble situations  in  life." 


THE   PICTURE   PREACHER. 


287 


THE  BALD  KNIGHT. 


A  merry  heart  doeth  good  like  a  medicine.    Pro  v.  xvii.  22. 

The  discretion  of  a  man  deferreth  his  anger,  and  it  is  his  glory 

to  pass  over  a  transgression,     Prov.  xix.  11. Pleasant  words 

are  an  honeycomb.     Prov.  xvi.  24. A  man  hath  joy  by  the 

answer  of  his  mouth.      Prov.   xv.  23. He  that  handleth  a 

matter  wisely  shall  find  good.     Prov.  xvi,  20. 


288  KOYAL   ROAD   TO   HAPPINESS;   OR 

THE  BALD  KNIGHT. 

A  certain  knight,  growing  old,  his  hair  fell  off  and 
he  became  bald,  to  hide  which  imperfection  he  wore  a 
periwig.  But  as  he  was  riding  out  with  some  others  a 
sudden  gust  of  wind  blew  off  the  periwig  and  exposed 
his  bald  pate.  The  company  could  not  forbear  laugh- 
ing at  the  accident,  and  he  himself  laughed  as  loud  as 
anybody,  saying,  "  how  was  it  to  be  expected  that  I 
should  keep  strange  hair  upon  my  head  when  my  own 
would  not  stay  there." 

Application. — To  be  captious  is  not  more  uneasy  to 
ourselves  than  it  is  disagreeable  to  others.  As  no  man 
is  entirely  without  fault,  a  few  defects  surrounded  with 
a  guard  of  good  qualities  may  pass  muster  well  enough, 
but  he,  whose  attention  is  always  upon  the  catch  of 
something  to  take  exception  at,  if  he  had  no  other  bad 
quality,  can  never  be  acceptable.  A  captious  temper, 
like  a  little  leaven,  sours  a  whole  lump  of  virtues,  and 
makes  us  disrelish  that  which  might  otherwise  be  the 
most  grateful  conversation.  If  we  would  live  easy  to 
ourselves  and  agreeable  to  others,  we  should  be  so  far 
from  seeking  occasions  of  being  angry,  that  some- 
times we  should  let  them  pass  unregarded  when  they 
come  in  our  way ;  or,  if  they  are  so  palpable  that  we 
cannot  help  taking  notice  of  them,  we  should  do  well 
to  rally  them  off  with  a  jest,  or  dissolve  them  in  good 
humor. 

Some  people  evidently  take  a  secret  pleasure  in  net- 
tling and  fretting  others,  and  the  more  practicable  they 
find  it  to  exercise  this  quality  upon  any  one,  the  more 
does  it  whet  and  prompt  their  inclination  to  do  it.  But 
as  this  talent  savors  something  of  ill-nature,  it  deserves 
to  be  baffled  and  defeated,  which  one  cannot  do  better 
than  by  receiving  all  that  is  uttered  at  such  a  time  with 
a  cheerful  aspect  and  an  ingenious,  pleasant  and  unaf- 
fected reply.  From  the  days  of  Solomon,  "a  soft  an- 
swer,'' has  turned  away  wrath. 


THE   PICTURE   PREACHER,  289 

THE  PRINCIPLE   OF  SHAME. 

No  point  is  more  clear  than  that  moral  woith  is  supe- 
rior to  everything  else  which  bears  the  name  of  worth; 
that  virtue  in  rags  is  more  respectable  than  vice  in 
brocade. 

**  In  the  drama  of  life  it  is  not  to  be  considered  who 
among  actors  is  prince  or  who  is  beggar,  but  who  acts 
prince  or  beggar  best."  So  taught  Epictetus,  a  cele- 
brated philosopher  of  ancient  Greece ;  and  Pope  has 
versified  him  in  the  following  couplet : 

"  Honor  and  shame  from  no  condition  rise  ; 
Act  well  your  part ;  'tis  there  true  honer  lies." 

All  this  is  well  said.  That  the  point  of  honor  lies, 
not  so  much  in  having  a  grand  or  a  conspicuous  part  to 
act,  but  rather  in  acting  well  the  part  that  Providence 
allots  us,  is  a  position  which  admits  of  no  dispute.  But 
although  it  contradicts  the  theory  of  almost  nobody,  it 
is  contrary  to  the  practice  of  almost  everybody. 

He  that  acts  upon  the  stage  of  life  a  high  part,  will 
be  courted,  and  he  that  acts  a  low  part  will  be  slighted ; 
though  the  latter  should  very  far  excel  the  former  in  all 
that  relates  to  the  qualities  of  the  heart.  The  man 
that  comes  in  with  the  gold  ring  and  in  goodly  ap- 
parel, is  respectfully  invited  to  sit  here,  in  a  good 
place ;  while  the  child  of  poverty,  whose  raiment  is 
vile,  is  ordered  to  sit  there,  at  the  footstool ;  and  that 
without  any  regard  to  real  merit  or  demerit  This  is 
the  fashion  of  the  world  ;  a  fashion  which  all  do  more 
or  less  follow. 

It  would  in  no  wise  be  difficult  to  carry  this  train  of 
thoughts  to  any  reasonable  length ;  since  the  subject  is 
no  less  prolific  than  evincive  of  the  distempered  con- 
dition of  the  world  we  live  in.  But  all  that  I  farther 
intend  is  to  remark,  in  few  words,  on  Shame — ^under- 
stood not  in  the  sense  here  given  it  by  the  poet,  that  is 
to  say,  as  synonymous  with  dishonor  or  disgrace ;  but 

13 


290        ROYAL  ROAD  TO  HAPPINESS;  OR 

as  denoting  a  certain  kind  of  bosom-sensation,  utterly 
undescribable,  and  yet  most  clearly  distinguishable 
from  every  other  feeling  of  the  heart. 

Shame,  then,  meaning  the  sense  of  shame,  is  one  of 
the  powerful  principles  of  our  fallen  nature,  and,  like 
our  other  natural  principles,  it  does  good  or  mischief 
according  to  the  direction  it  takes.     It  operates  most 
powerfully  in  the  seasons  of  childhood  and  youth,  and 
operates,  on  the  whole,  much  more  good  than  ill ;  for 
it  is  a  preventive  of  indecency,  and  an  incentive  to 
laudable  emulation.     An  over  diffident  youth,  if  prop- 
erly encouraged,   will  exert  himself  to  arrive  to  such 
attainments  as  shall  give  him  confidence  ;  but  an  over 
confident  one,  being  full  of  himself,  thinks  he  has  at- 
tained enough  already,  and  of  course  becomes  remiss. 
I  believe  it  would  be  found  upon  a  close  inspection  of 
mankind,  in  past  ages  as  well  as  the  present,  that,  of 
truly  great  and  excellent  characters,  a  very  large  pro- 
portion had  felt  the  pains  of  diffidence,  and  displayed 
upon  their  cheeks  the  blush  of  shame,  in  their  juvenile 
days. 

The  most  virtuous  do  nothing  to  be  ashamed  of  be- 
fore men,  and  the  most  vicious  are  without  shame.  But 
between  the  utmost  limits  of  human  virtuousness  on  the 
one  side,  and  viciousness  on  the  other,  there  is  a  vast 
interval,  which  is  filled  up  with  mixed  characters  of 
both  sorts ;  and  upon  them  well-directed  shame  has  a 
great  and  powerful  influence.  **  Many  w^ho  have  not 
resolution  enough  to  avoid  a  bad  action,  have  yet  feel- 
ing enough  to  be  ashamed  of  it."  And  that  feeling  of 
shame  may  prevent  their  repeating  the  misdeed; 
whereas,  of  an  offender  that  is  utterly  shameless  there 
is  no  hope. 

Shame  has  a  prodigious  influence  in  enforcing  the 
social  laws  of  decency.  Multitudes  of  people  would 
not  act  so  well  as  they  do  if  they  were  not  ashamed  to 
act  worse.  And  it  is  better,  at  least  for  society,  that 
they  have  the  grace  of  shame,  than  no  grace  at  all 


THE    PICTURE    PREACHER.  291 

Vice  loves  the  company  of  its  like.  And  why?  It 
is,  that  it  may  keep  itself  in  countenance,  or  escape 
the  confusion  of  shame.  Vice  is  conscious  deformity, 
and  vicious  persons  are  enabled  to  hold  up  their  heads 
in  society,  chiefly  from  the  .knowledge  or  feeling  that 
numbers  about  them  are  deformed  like  themselves. 
Whereas  if  one  stood  quite  alone  in  the  practice  of 
vice,  and  at  the  same  time  had  the  eyes  of  the  good 
upon  him,  he  would,  unless  desperately  hardened,  be 
ashamed  of  himself  Hence,  a  notoriously  vicious  per- 
son, living  in  a  place  where  all  the  rest  were  virtuous, 
would  be  impelled,  as  it  were,  of  very  shame,  either  to 
mend  his  ways,  or  to  remove  off  to  a  more  congenial 
society.  In  short,  the  benefits  of  shame  are  alike  great, 
in  number  and  in  magnitude ;  so  far  forth,  that  it  is 
questionable  whether,  in  the  society  of  civilized  man, 
there  be  not  more  persons  who  act  decently  from  the 
sense  or  fear  of  shame,  than  from  the  impulse  of  a  sound 
moral  principle. 

This  matter  was  well  understood  by  the  sophists  of 
the  last  age,  who,  in  the  war  they  waged  against  preju- 
dice, or  rather  in  their  nefarious  efforts  to  banish  from 
society,  not  only  pure  morals,  but  even  the  common 
decencies  of  life ;  artfully  directed  their  efforts  partic- 
ularly at  the  total  extinction  of  the  feeling  of  shame. 
And,  for  some  time,  their  success  corresponded  to  their 
zeal. 

Here  two  things  are  to  be  observed  very  carefully  in 
the  training  of  children. 

1.  Their  natural  sense  of  shame  should  not  be  put 
to  trial  too  frequently,  nor  too  severely.  ^^  Shame," 
says  Mr.  Locke,  "is  in  children  a  delicate  principle, 
which  a  bad  management  of  them  presently  extin- 
guishes. If  you  shame  them  for  every  trespass,  and 
especially  if  you  do  it  before  company,  you  will  make 
them  shameless.  Moreover,  if  you  expose  them  to  ex- 
cessive shame  for  their  greater  faults,  they  will  be  very 
likely  to  lose  all  shame,   and  if  once  lost  it  is  gone 


292  KOYAL   ROAD   TO   HAPPINESS;   OB 

irrecoverably.  By  tampering  with  this  feeling  too 
often  or  with  a  rough  hand,  children  the  most  sus- 
ceptible of  shame,  may  be  made  quite  callous  to  its 
influence." 

2.  Children  should  be  guarded  betimes  against  false 
shame,  wliich,  in  all  its  multifarious  ramifications,  and 
oftentimes  in  the  name  and  under  the  guise  of  honor, 
has  done  frightful  mischief  to  our  misjudging  and  de- 
luded race. 

THE  THIEF  AND  THE  HOUSE-DOG. 

A  thief,  coming  to  rob  a  certain  house  in  the  night, 
was  disturbed  in  his  attempt  by  the  vigilant  house-dog 
who  kept  barking  at  him  continually;  upon  which  the 
thief,  thinking  to  stop  his  mouth,  held  out  a  piece  of 
meat,  of  which  all  dogs  are  very  fond.  The  dog  re- 
fused it  with  indignation,  telling  him  that  before,  he 
only  suspected  him  to  be  a  bad  man,  but  now,  upon 
his  ofl'ering  a  bribe,  he  was  confirmed  in  his  opinion, 
and  that  as  he  was  intrusted  with  the  guardianship  of 
his  master's  house,  he  never  should  stop  barking  while 
such  a  rogue  as  he  lay  lurking  about  it. 

Application  — A  man  who  is  very  free  in  his  protes- 
tations of  friendship,  or  offers  great  civility  upon  the 
first  intersaew,  may  meet  with  applause  and  esteem 
from  fools,  but  contrives  his  schemes  of  that  sort  to 
little  or  no  purpose  in  the  company  of  men  of  sense. 
It  is  a  common  and  known  maxim  to  suspect  an  enemy 
even  the  more  for  his  endeavoring  to  convince  us  of 
his  benevolence,  because  of  the  oddness  of  the  thing 
puts  us  on  our  guard  and  makes  us  conclude  that  some 
pernicious  design  must  be  couched  under  such  sudden 
and  unexpected  behavior !  but  it  is  no  unnecessaiy 
caution  to  be  on  the  watch  even  in  indifferent  people, 
when  we  perceive  them  uncommonly  forward  in  their 
approaches  of  civility  and  kindness.  The  man  who, 
at  first  sight  makes  us  an  offer  which  is  only  due  to 


THE   PICTURE   PREACHER. 


293 


HONESTY, 

tdkes  no  Bribe^^ 


THE  THIEF  AND  HOUSE-DOG. 


Verily  I  say  unto  you,  he  that  entereth  not  hy  the  door  .  .  .  . 
hut  climbeth  up  some  other  way,  the  same  is  a  thief  and  a  robber. 

John  X.  1. The  thief  cometh  not,  but  for  to  steal  and  to  kill. 

John  X.  10. Their  right  hand  is  full  of  bribes.     Psa.  10. 

Deceit  is  in  the  heart  of  them  that  imagine  evil.     Prov.  xii.  29. 

Be  not  desirous  of  his  dainties  :  for  they  are  deceitful  meat. 

P*rov.  xxiii.  3. 1  say  unto  all,  watch.     Mark  xiii.  27. 


294  ROYAL   ROAD   TO    HAPPINESS;    OR 

particular  and  well-known  friends,  must  be  either  a 
knave  and  intends  by  such  a  bait  to  draw  us  into  his 
net,  or  a  fool,  with  whom  we  ought  to  avoid  having 
any  communication. 

Thus  far  the  consideration  of  this  fable  may  be  use- 
ful to  us  in  private  life ;  what  it  contains  farther  in 
relation  to  the  public  is  that  a  man,  truly  honest,  will 
never  let  his  mouth  be  stopped  with  a  bribe ;  but  the 
greater  the  offer  is  which  is  designed  to  buy  his  silence, 
the  louder  and  more  constantly  will  it  be  open  against 
the  miscreants  who  would  practice  it  upon  him. 


PRAYER  REMARKABLY  ANSWERED. 

The  following  anecdote  was  related  by  Rev.  Robert 
Newton  (a  Wesleyan  minister)  in  a  sermon  on  Hebrews 
iv.  16  :  *^  Let  us  therefore  come  boldly  to  the  throne  of 
grace,  that  we  may  obtain  mercy,  and  find  grace  to 
help  in  time  of  need."  The  preacher  who  gave  the 
account  was  personally  acquainted  with  the  family,  as 
well  as  the  benevolent  lady  who  so  kindly  and  season- 
ably assisted  them. 

A  pious  person  in  Liverpool  (whose  business  was 
either  that  of  a  joiner  or  mason),  was  attending  to  his 
calling,  when  he  suddenly  fell  from  a  high  building, 
and  was  taken  up  for  dead,  though  it  turned  out  that 
the  vital  spark  was  not  yet  extinct.  He  was  carried  to 
his  own  dwelling,  where  he  received  medical  attend- 
ance, and  by  the  use  of  means,  and  God^s  blessing,  he 
gradually  recovered ;  but  as  he  had  suffered  severely 
by  the  fall,  it  was  a  considerable  time  before  he  could 
do  anything  toward  supporting  his  numerous  family, 
who  all  depended  upon  his  exertions.  The  little  stock 
of  money  he  had  previously  saved  out  of  his  earnings 
was  at  last  exhausted,  and  they  had  nothing  in  the 
house  to  supply  the  hungry  cravings  of  the  children. 


THE    PICTURE    PREACHER.  295 

The  distressed  mother  went  up  stairs  one  morning  to 
her  husband,  who  was  yet  unable  to  rise  from  his  bed, 
and  with  tears  in  her  eyes,  she  said  that  she  knew  not 
what  to  do,  as  the  children  were  crying  for  hunger, 
and  she  had  nothing  to  give  them.  The  good  husband 
was  overpowered  with  the  address  of  his  partner  and 
the  cries  of  the  children,  and,  turning  his  face  to  the 
wall,  sent  an  earnest  ejaculation  to  the  Lord  for  assist- 
ance, when  it  was  immediately  applied  to  his  mind, 
with  considerable  force,  *^Thy  bread  shall  be  given 
thee,  and  thy  water  shall  be  sure;"  whereupon  he 
immediately  turned  to  his  weeping  partner,  and  ad- 
dressed her  with  those  striking  words. 

While  he  was  yet  speaking,  there  was  a  knocking  at 
the  door,  which  the  wife  opened,  when  there  appeared 
a  servant  of  a  pious  lady  in  the  neighborhood.  The 
lady  had  heard  of  their  deplorable  situation  and  had 
sent  them  a  generous  supply  of  necessaries.  With 
gratitude  they  partook  of  the  blessings,  and  soon  after 
file  husband  was  restored,  and  the  sun  of  prosperity 
again  visited  their  dwelling. 


THE  ENEMY  TURNED  INTO  A  FRIEND. 

That  truly  great  and  good  man,  the  Rev.  John  Howe, 
when  obliged  by  a  change  of  affairs  to  quit  the  charge 
of  his  congregation  at  Irvington,  in  Devonshire,  being 
still  impressed  with  a  sense  of  his  duty,  took  every  op- 
portunity to  preach  the  word  of  life.  He  and  Mr. 
Flavel  frequently  conducted  their  secret  ministrations 
at  midnight  in  different  houses,  in  the  north  of  Devon- 
shire. Yet  even  here  the  observant  ^ye  of  malevolence 
was  upon  them. 

Mr.  Howe  had  been  officiating  at  one  of  these  houses, 
on  a  dark  and  tempestuous  wintry  night,  when  an 
alarm  was  given  that  infonuation  had  been  made,  and 
warrants  granted  to  apprehend  him.     It  was  judged 


296  BOYAL   KOAD   TO   HAPPINESS;   OR 

f)rudent  for  him  to  quit  the  house,  but  in  riding  over  a 
arge  common  he  and  his  servant  missed  their  way. 
After  several  fruitless  attempts  to  recover  it,  they  went 
forward  in  search  of  a  house  where  they  might  find  a 
lodging.  He  soon  discovered  a  mansion  and  on  in- 
quiring at  the  door  found  tliey  could  stay  all  night. 

Soon  after  entering,  Mr.  Howe  was  surprised  to  find 
that  the  house  belonged  to  his  most  inveterate  enemy, 
a  country  magistrate,  who  had  often  breathed  the  most 
implacable  vengeance  against  him,  and  whom  also  he 
believed  was  well  acquainted  with  the  occasion  of 
his  traveling  at  such  an  hour.  However,  he  put  the 
best  face  he  could  upon  it,  and  even  mentioned  his 
name  and  residence  to  the  gentleman,  trusting  to  Prov- 
idence for  the  result.  His  entertainer  ordered  sup- 
per to  be  provided,  and  entered  into  a  considerable 
conversation  with  the  guest,  and  was  so  delighted 
with  his  company  that  it  was  a  very  late  hour  before 
he  would  permit  him  to  retire  to  rest.  In  the  morning 
Mr.  Howe  expected  to  be  accosted  with  a  commitment 
and  sent  to  Exeter,  but,  on  the  contrary,  was  received 
by  the  family  at  breakfast  with  a  very  hospitp.ble  wel- 
come. After  mutual  civilities,  he  departed  to  his  own 
abode,  greatly  wondering  in  himself  at  the  kindness  of 
a  man  from  whom  he  had  before  so  much  di-eaded. 

Not  long  after,  the  gentleman  sent  for  Mr.  Howe, 
who  found  him  confined  to  his  bed  by  sickness,  and 
still  more  deeply  wounded  with  the  sense  of  sin.  He 
acknowledged  that  when  Mr.  Howe  came  first  to  his 
door  he  inwardly  rejoiced  that  he  had  an  opportunity 
of  exercising  his  malice  upon  him,  but  that  his  conver- 
sation and  manner  insensibly  awed  him  into  respect 
He  had  long  ruminated  upon  the  observations  which 
had  fallen  from  the  man  of  God,  and  became  penitent, 
and  anxious  for  the  things  of  eternal  life.  From  that 
sickness  he  recovered,  became  an  eminent  Christian,  a 
friend  to  the  conscientious,  and  a  close  intimate  with 
the  man  whom  he  had  threatened  with  his  vengeance. 


THE    PICTURE    PREACHER.  297 

CHRISTIANITY  REVEALED  BY  SIGNS. 

Soon  after  the  surrender  of  Copenhagen  to  the  Eng- 
lish in  the  year  1807,  detacliments  of  soldiers  were,  for 
a  time,  stationed  in  the  surrounding  villages.     It  hap- 

f)ened  one  day  that  three  soldiers  belonging  to  a  High- 
and  regiment  were  sent  to  forage  among  the  neigh- 
bonng  farm-houses.  They  went  to  several,  but  found 
them  stripped  and  deserted.  At  length  they  came  to  a 
large  garden,  or  orchard,  full  of  apple  trees  bendmg 
under  the  weight  of  fruit.  They  entered  by  a  gate, 
and  followed  a  path  which  brought  them  to  a  neat 
farm-house.  Every  thing  without  bespoke  quietness 
and  security ;  but,  as  they  entered  by  the  front  door, 
the  mistress  of  the  house  and  her  children  ran  scream- 
ing out  by  the  door  in  the  rear. 

The  interior  of  the  house  presented  an  appearance  of 
order  and  comfort  superior  to  what  might  be  expected 
from  people  in  that  station  and  from  the  habits  of  the 
country.  A  watch  hung  by  the  side  of  the  fire-place, 
and  a  neat  book-case,  well  filled,  attracted  the  atten- 
tion of  the  elder  soldier.  He  took  down  a  book ;  it 
was  written  in  a  language  unknown  to  him,  but  the 
name  of  Jesus  Christ  was  legible  on  every  page.  At 
this  moment  the  master  of  the  house  entered  by  the 
door  through  which  his  wife  and  children  had  just 
fled. 

One  of  the  soldiers,  by  threatening  signs,  demanded 
provisions;  the  man  stood  firm  and  undaunted,  but 
shook  his  head.     The  soldier  who  held  the  book  ap- 

f)roached  him,  and  pointed  to  the  name  of  Jesus  Christ, 
aid  his  hand  upon  his  heart,  and  looked  up  to  heaven. 
Instantly  the  farmer  grasped  his  hand,  shook  it  vehe- 
mently, and  then  ran  out  of  the  room.  He  soon 
returned  with  his  wife  and  children,  laden  with  milk, 
eggs,  bacon,  etc.,  which  were  freely  tendered ;  and 
when  money  was  offered  in  return,  it  was  at  first 
refused ;  but,  as  two  of  the  soldiers  were  pious  men, 

13* 


298        ROYAL  ROAD  TO  HAPPINESS;  OR 

they,  much  to  the  chagrin  of  their  companion,  insisted 
upon  paying  for  all  they  received. 

When  taking  leave,  the  pious  soldiers  intimated  to 
the  farmer  that  it  would  be  well  for  him  to  secrete  his 
watch;  but,  by  the  most  significant  signs,  he  gave 
them  to  understand  he  feared  no  evil,  for  his  trust  was 
in  God,  and  that  though  his  neighbors,  on  the  right 
hand  and  on  the  left,  had  fled  from  their  habitations, 
and  had  lost  by  foraging  parties  what  they  could  not 
remove,  not  a  hair  of  his  head  had  been  injured,  nor 
had  he  even  lost  an  apple  from  his  trees. 


THE   SICK  LION,   WOLF   AND  FOX. 

A  lion,  having  surfeited  himself  with  feasting  luxu- 
riously on  the  carcass  of  a  wild  boar,  was  seized  with 
a  violent  and  dangerous  disorder.  The  beasts  of  the 
forest  flocked  to  him  to  pay  their  respects  in  order  to 
render  him  any  assistance  he  might  require,  and  devise 
some  remedies  for  his  relief.  All  the  animals  in  the 
vicinity  were  assembled  and  scarce  one  was  absent 
except  the  fox.  The  wolf,  an  ill-natured,  malicious 
beast,  and  at  this  time  on  bad  terms  with  the  fox, 
seized  this  opportunity  to  accuse  him  of  pride,  ingrati- 
tude and  disaffection  to  his  majesty.  In  the  midst  of 
this  invective  the  fox  entered ;  who,  having  heard  part 
of  the  wolfs  accusation  and  observed  the  lion^s  coun- 
tenance to  be  kindled  into  wrath,  thus  adroitly  excused 
himself  and  retorted  upon  his  accuser:  *^  I  see  many 
here  who,  with  mere  lip  service,  have  pretended  to 
show  you  their  loyalty,  but,  for  my  part,  from  the 
moment  I  heard  of  your  majesty's  illness,  neglecting 
useless  compliments,  I  employed  myself  day  and  night 
to  inquire  among  the  most  learned  physicians  an  infalli- 
ble remedy  for  your  disease,  and  have,  at  length,  hap- 
pily been  informed  of  one.  It  is  part  of  a  wolfs  skin 
taken  warm  from  his  back,  and  laid  to  your  majesty's 
stomach." 


THE   PICTURE   PREACHER, 


299 


THE  SICK  LION,  WOLF  AND  FOX. 


The   instruments   of  the  churl  ore  evil :   he  deviseth  wicked 

devices  to  destroy.     Isa.  xxx.  7. Be  not  a  witness  against  thy 

neighbor  without  cause.      Prov.  xxiv.  28. Speak  evil  of  no 

man.     Titus  iil  2. Why  meddle  to  thy  hurt.     2  Kings  xiv. 

10. A  false  witness  shall  not  he  unpunished.     Prov.  xix.  6. 

His  wicked  device  returned  upon  his  own  head,    Esth.  ix.  25. 


300        ROYAL  BO  AD  TO  HAPPWESS;  OR 

This  remedy  was  no  sooner  proposed  than  it  was 
determined  that  the  experiment  should  be  tried,  and 
while  the  operation  was  performing,  the  fox,  with  a 
sarcastic  smile,  whispered  this  in  the  wolf's  ear:  ^'If 
you  would  be  safe  from  harm  yourself,  learn  for  the 
future  not  to  meditate  mischief  against  others." 


COMMENT  ON  AN  ANCIENT  ALLEGORY. 

A  celebrated  ancient  philosopher  of  the  pagan  school 
has  represented  human  nature  under  the  similitude  or 
analogy  of  a  chariot  drawn  by  two  horses ;  the  one,  of 
excellent  mettle  and  lively  motion ;  and  the  other, 
sluggish  and  obstinate  ;  so  that  while  the  former  sprung 
forward,  his  mate  hung  back.  And  it  must  be  owned 
there  is  a  striking  aptness  in  this  little  allegory. 

This  marvelous  phenomenon,  namely,  the  disjointed 
condition  of  human  nature  and  the  perpetual  variance 
of  man  with  himself,  has  been  plainly  visible  in  all 
ages ;  and  oft  and  many  a  time  has  mole-eyed  philos- 
ophy puzzled  herself  in  vain  to  account  for  it  It  used 
to  be  thought  by  the  engrossers  of  the  wisdom  of  this 
world,  that  the  mind  and  the  body  were  unequally 
yoked  together;  that  the  fonner,  being  of  celestial 
mould,  was  naturally  inclined  to  mount  upward,  and 
that  the  latter  ever  checked  the  noble  flights  of  its 
yoke-fellow,  forcing  it  back  again  to  kindred  earth. 
The  wise  Son  of  Sirach  seems  to  have  possessed  a 
tincture  of  this  fashionable  philosophy,  when  he  re- 
marked, *^The  corruptible  body  weigheth  down  the 
soul." 

For  which  reason,  the  body  has  met  with  hard  and 
scurvy  usage  among  religionists  of  difierent  schools. 
The  bigots  of  paganism  in  the  dark  age,  regarding  their 
bodies  as  clogs  to  and  polluters  of  their  nobler  part, 
proceeded  to  treat  these  unworthy  copartners  with  un- 
merited scorn  and  cruelty. 


THE   PICTURE    PREACHER.  301 

Revelation,  fairly  understood,  sets  this  whole  matter 
in  a  clear  light.  In  it  we  see  whence  sprang  the 
strange  inconsistency  in  human  nature,  and  from  it  we 
learn  tliat,  as  neither  the  soul  can  subsist  in  the  present 
state  without  the  body,  nor  the  body  without  the  soul, 
so  it  behooves  that  they  live  together  in  harmony — 
provided  the  mferior  be  never  permitted  to  get  the 
upper  hand,  but  be  kept  at  all  times  in  due  subjection  to 
its  superior. 

But  leaving  this  momentous  subject  to  abler  pens,  I 
crave  the  license  of  considering  the  fabulous  chariot  of 
Plato  in  a  different  and,  peradventure,  a  new  point  of 
view.  The  twain  that  have  entered  together  into  the 
covenant  of  marriage  ^^  are  no  more  twain,  but  one 
flesh."  And  yet  they  are  frequently  seen  to  pull  in 
different  directions,  so  that  the  chariot  either  stands  still 
or  is  rent  by  the  struggle. 

In  one  instance  there  is  seen  an  industrious,  tidy, 
and  frugal  wife  yoked  to  a  lazy  and  squandering  hus- 
band, who  wastes  his  time  here  and  there  about  noth- 
ing, or  spends  it,  along  with  his  money,  at  a  neighbor- 
ing dram-shop,  to  the  ruination  of  soul  and  body ; 
while  she,  on  her  part,  strains  every  nerve  and  fibre  of 
exertion  barely  to  save  herself  and  her  little  ones  from 
hunger  and  nakedness. 

In  another  instance  is  seen  a  husband  of  sober  life 
and  frugal  habits,  laboring  in  his  field  or  workshop 
from  morn  to  eve ;  whilst  his  rib  takes  her  ease,  neg- 
lects the  care  of  her  household,  idles  away  her  time,  is 
wasteful  and  prodigal,  and  scatters  even  faster  than  he 
can  gather. 

Fungus  takes  double  duty  upon  himself.  Although 
he  has  a  wife  competently  capable  and  well  disposed  to 
do  her  part,  he  is  ever  overseeing  and  governing  her 
concerns.  His  vigilant  eye  is  peeping  about  at  every- 
thing that  is  going  on,  from  parlor  to  kitchen  and  from 
kitchen  to  parlor,  looking  into  every  dish  while  it  is 
cooking — an  unmitigated  **  watch  pot !" 


302  BOYAL   ROAD   TO   HAPPINESS;   OR 

Vixenna — ^unlike  the  truly  politic  wife  described  by 
Pope,  who,  though  ^^  she  rules  her  husband,  never  shows 
she  rules  " — Vixenna,  on  the  contrary,  is  ambitious  to 
make  her  own  power  known.  Her  husband,  poor  man, 
is  fain  to  give  account  to  her  of  all  the  items  of  his 
business,  and  to  receive  directions  and  mandates  from 
her  lips,  day  by  day,  as  well  before  company  as  behind 
the  curtain. 

Some  partners  in  wedlock  thwart  one  another  as  to 
the  important  matter  of  governing  and  disciplining 
their  children.  For  instance,  the  boy  that  is  corrected 
by  the  father,  and  but  reasonably  corrected,  looks  to 
the  mother  to  take  his  part,  and  to  give  it  back  to  her 
conjugal  inmate  in  angry  grimaces,  hard  words, .  and 
menacing  gestures.  This  is  the  sure  way  to  rear  up 
children  for  the  purpose  of  being  trampled  down  by 
them. 

We  are  apt  to  regard  a  condition  in  life  as  positively 
bad,  whenever  it  is  attended  with  any  prominent  cir- 
cumstance of  an  unpleasant  nature.  And  hence  it  is 
thought,  that  unless  there  be  much  suavity  of  disposi- 
tion on  both  sides,  marriages  must  needs  be  unhappy ; 
and,  moreover,  that  those  matches  are  the  most  promis- 
ing, in  which  each  partner  is  most  like  to  each.  But 
otherwise,  in  a  great  many  instances,  is  the  language 
of  experience.  Virtuousness  of  character  being  under- 
stood, it  is  not  every  degree  of  unlikeness  in  point  of 
natural  temper  that  tends  to  render  this  connection  in- 
compatible with  a  good  share  of  peace  and  quiet. 

On  the  contrary  the  choleric  and  the  cool,  the  lively 
and  the  grave,  the  talkative  and  the  taciturn,  the  peev- 
ish and  the  placid,  often  are  found  well  sorted  together. 
Theirs  is  like  the  harmony  of  different  sounding  chords, 
which,  if  occasionally  it  is  interrupted  by  a  discordant 
note,  it  is  presently  restored. 

In  a  word,  it  is  beyond  calculation  how  much  can 
be  done  by  good  husbands  toward  making  good  wives, 
and  by  good  wives  toward  making  good  husbands. 


THE   PICTURE   PREACHER.  303 

THE   THREE    SCOFFERS. 

In  a  seaport  town,  on  the  west  coast  of  England, 
notice  was  given  of  a  sermon  to  be  preached  there  on 
Sunday  evening.  The  preacher  was  a  man  of  great 
celebrity,  and  that  circumstance,  together  with  the 
object  of  discourse  being  to  enforce  the  duty  of  a 
strict  observance  of  the  Sabbath,  attracted  an  over- 
flowing audience.  After  the  usual  prayers  and  praises 
the  preacher  read  his  text,  and  was  about  to  proceed 
with  his  sermon,  when  he  suddenly  paused,  leaning  his 
head  on  the  pulpit,  and  remained  silent  for  a  few 
moments. 

It  was  imagined  that  he  had  become  indisposed,  but 
he  soon  recovered  himself,  and  addressing  the  congre- 
gation, said  that,  before  entering  upon  his  discourse  he 
wished  to  narrate  a  short  anecdote. 

**It  is  now  exactly  fifteen  years,'^  said  he,  ^^since  I 
was  last  within  this  place  of  worship,  and  the  occa- 
sion was,  as  many  here  may  probably  remember,  the 
very  same  as  that  which  has  now  brought  us  together. 
Amongst  those  that  came  hither  that  evening  were 
three  dissolute  young  men,  who  came  not  only  with 
the  intention  of  insulting  and  mocking  the  venerable 
pastor,  but  even  with  stones  in  their  pockets  to  throw 
at  him  as  he  stood  in  the  pulpit. 

**  Accordingly,  they  had  not  attended  long  to  the 
discourse,  when  one  of  them  said,  impatiently,  ^^  Why 
need  we  listen  any  longer  to  the  blockhead  ? — throw  r 
But  the  second  stopped  him,  saying,  ^^  Let  us  first  see 
what  he  makes  of  this  point."  The  curiosity  of  the 
latter  was  no  sooner  satisfied,  than  he,  too,  said,  ^^  Ay, 
confound  him,  it  is  only  as  I  expected — throw  now  !" 
But  here  the  third  interposed,  and  said,  **  It  would  be 
better  altogether  to  give  up  the  design  which  has 
brought  us  here."  At  this  remark  his  two  associates 
took  offence  and  left  the  place,  while  he  himself  re- 
mained to  the  end. 


304  ROYAL    ROAD   TO    HAPPINESS;    OR 

'*  Now  mark,  my  brethren,"  continued  the  preacher 
with  much  emotion,  "•  what  were  afterwards  the  several 
fates  of  these  young  men.  The  first  was  hanged, 
many  years  ago,  at  Tybirm,  for  the  crime  of  forgery ; 
the  second  is  now  lying  under  sentence  of  death,  for 
murder,  in  the  gaol  of  this  city.  The  third,  my 
brethren," — and  the  speakers  agitation  here  became 
excessive,  while  he  paused,  and  wiped  the  large  drops 
from  his  brow — ^^the  third,  my  brethren,  is  he  who  is 
now  about  to  address  you  !  listen  to  him." 


CONDESCENSION. 


At  a  recent  general  conference  of  the  Southern 
Methodist  Church,  a  colored  preacher  of  the  African 
church,  named  Johnson,  was  received  as  a  delegate 
from  that  body.  In  the  course  of  his  reply  to  an 
address  of  welcome,  he  uttered  the  following  beautiful 
figure : 

"  Brethren,  there  happened  to  me  in  that  ante-room 
a  circumstance  I  shall  never  forget.  You  remember 
that  David  in  the  cave  of  Adullam  sighed  for  water 
from  the  well  of  Bethlehem ;  three  young  men  at  the 
peril  of  their  lives  brought  the  longed-for  water,  which 
David  would  not  drink  since  it  was  procured  at  the 
hazard  of  life.  He  therefore  poured  it  out  as  a  liba- 
tion before  the  Lord." 

Said  the  speaker,  ^^  When  I  entered  this  room  I  was 
fevered,  and  like  David,  longed  for  water.  A  gen- 
tleman took  a  goblet  to  serve  me ;  in  his  absence,  I 
learned  he  was  the  governor  of  the  state  of  Georgia. 
Realizing  the  chasm  between  us,  I  thought  of  David, 
and  taking  the  goblet  from  his  hand,  I  begged  I  might 
pour  out  the  water  as  a  libation  forever  between  his 
race  and  mine."  *'  We  never  saw,"  says  the  narrator 
of  the  scene,  *'  a  house  more  stricken,  thrilled  and 
melted  by  any  human  orator." 


THE   PICTURE   PREACHER. 


305 


CONDESCENSION,  COURTEOUSNESS  AND  KINDNESS. 


Condescend  to  men  of  low  estate.     Rom.  xii.  16. Whosoever 

will  be  great  among  you,  let  him  he  your  minister.     Matt.  xx.  26. 

By  love  serve  one  another.     Gal.  v.  15. Do  good ,  .  .  .  with 

such  service  Ood  is  well  pleased ....  a  sacrifice  acceptable  and 
well  pleading  to  God.     Phil.  iv.  18. 


306  EOYAL   ROAD   TO   HAPPINESS;    OR 

We  have,  in  this  narrative,  a  noble  exhibition  of  the 

Eower  of  Christianity  and  the  brotherhood  of  man ;  the 
ighest  person  in  the  state  condescending  to  be  tlie 
servant  of  the  lowest  and  most  despised  class  of  which 
he  was  the  governor.  A  cup  of  cold  water  for  a 
thirsty  and  fainting  person  is  the  most  precious  gift  he 
can  receive  ;  nothing  else  can  give  him  relief  Con- 
sidering the  disparity  between  the  races  of  the  giver 
and  receiver,  the  latter  was  most  powerfully  impressed. 
He,  too,  could  perform  a  noble  act  as  well,  and  per- 
haps a  superior  act,  to  that  of  his  white  brother. 
Denying  himself  of  the  coveted  draught,  and  having 
obtained  permission,  he  poured  it  out  as  a  sacrifice  or 
libation,  to  the  Deity,  to  sanction  and  perpetuate  the 
covenant  between  the  races. 


THE   SPEAKING-PAPER. 

An  Indian  Sachem,  when  one  offered  to  take  his  son 
and  learn  him  to  write,  contemptuously  replied,  ^*  What 
good  will  it  do  a  boy  to  play  with  a  feather  ?" — ^mean- 
ing the  goose-quill  by  which,  until  about  the  year  1835, 
all  pens  were  made.  Nor  was  that  reply  unreasonable 
in  a  savage  who  preferred  his  own  condition  to  civil- 
ized life. 

But  what  a  potent  instrument  is  the  pen  1  What- 
ever there  is  which  relates  to  morals  and  government, 
to  literature  or  science,  to  the  pleasures  of  imagina- 
tion, and  to  business  of  any  and  of  every  kind,  is 
helped  forward  by  the  pen.  See  this  vast  realm  daily 
traversed  by  the  mails,  that  fly  in  every  direction, 
fraught  with  thousands  and  tens  of  thousands  of  letters 
— some  of  business,  some  of  friendship,  some  of  love  ; 
see  parent  and  child,  husband  and  wife,  lover  and  mis- 
tress, brothers  and  sisters,  by  means  of  the  speaking- 
paper,  converse  together  though  thousands  of  miles 
apart 


THE   PICTURE   PREACHER.  307 

What  we  would  recommend  to  youths  generally  and 
of  "both  sexes  is  letter  writing.  It  improves  the  under- 
standing as  well  as  enlivens  the  social  affections. 

Of  two  females,  perfectly  equal  when  leaving  their 
school  at  the  age  of  fifteen,  if  one  should  almost  en- 
tirely neglect  her  pen,  and  the  other  should  frequently 
employ  hers  in  well-chosen  correspondences,  the  latter 
at  the  age  of  thirty,  other  things  being  alike,  would, 
from  this  single  circumstance,  have  become  considera- 
bly superior  to  the  former  in  point  of  understanding, 
and  probably,  too,  in  point  of  sensibility.  Not  to 
mention  that  very  close  friends,  and  very  near  rela- 
tions, when  long  separated  almost  forget  one  another, 
unless  their  friendship  be  kept  up  by  means  of  a  fre- 
quent interchange  of  letters. 

When  this  is  neglected  even  between  brothers  and 
sisters  in  the  lapse  of  years  they  measurably  lose  all 
interest  in  each  other.  Practically,  the  parties  have 
been  so  long  dead  to  each  other's  presence  and  inter- 
ests that  when  death  or  misfortune  actually  overtakes 
one  of  them,  often  the  tidings  are  received  without  a 
pang  by  the  other. 

To  neglect  to  answer  letters  from  friends  and  ac- 
quaintances is  but  little  less  uncivil  than  not  to  reply 
when  they  speak  to  you  with  their  lips. 

An  ill-tempered  letter,  once  sent,  may  imbitter  a 
lifetime.  A  benevolent  old  gentleman,  thin-skinned 
and  hot-tempered^  begged  his  post-master  to  return  a 
letter  he  had  just  dropped  in  the  box.  Although  ille- 
gal, at  his  earnest  importunity  the  latter  did  so.  He 
received  it  with  a  beaming  face,  tore  the  letter  into 
fragments,  and  scattering  them  to  the  wind,  exclaimed : 
**  Ah  I  I've  preserved  my  friend."  He  had  doubtless, 
in  a  moment  of  irritation,  written  an  unjust,  stinging 
letter  which  he  wisely  recalled.  *^  Written  words 
remain,"  is  an  old  proverb.  Carelessness  in  writing  a 
letter  has  often  worked  infinite  mischief  No  record 
is  so  strong,  never  to  be  got  over,  as  that  which  a  man 


308  ROYAL   ROAP   TO   HAPPIIHESS;   QR 

voluntarily  makes  with  his  own  handwriting.  More 
people  commit  suicide  with  the  pen  than  with  the  pis- 
tol, the  dagger  and  the  rope. 

In  writing,  nothing  is  so  fascinating  as  simplicity 
and  earnestness.  Plain  words  are  ever  the  best  Says 
Fitz  Green  Halleck,  '^  A  letter  fell  into  my  hands 
which  a  Scotch  girl  had  written  to  her  lover.  Its 
style  charmed  me.  I  wondered  how,  in  her  circum- 
stances in  life,  she  could  have  acquired  so  elegant  and 
perfect  a  style — a  model  of  elegance  and  beauty.  To 
solve  the  mystery  I  called  at  the  house  where  she  was 
employed  to  ascertain  how,  in  her  simple  circum- 
stances in  life,  she  had  acquired  a  style  so  beautiful 
that  the  most  cultivated  minds  could  but  admire  it." 

"  Sir,"  she  said,  ^^  I  came  to  this  country  four  years 
ago.  Then  I  did  not  know  how  to  read  nor  write.  But 
since  then  I  have  learned  to  read  and  write,  but  have 
not  learned  to  spell ;  so  always  when  I  sit  down  to 
write  a  letter  I  choose  those  words  which  are  so  short 
and  simple  that  I  am  sure  I  know  how  to  spell  them." 
There  was  the  whole  secret  The  reply  of  this  simple- 
minded  Scotch  girl  condenses  a  world  of  rhetoric  into 
a  nut-shell.    Simplicity  is  beauty ;  simplicity  is  power. 


MORAL  USE   OF  THE   PILLOW, 

With  Reflections  on  Sleep. 

'*  Consult  thy  Pillow." — This  short  counsel  con- 
tains **more  than  meets  the  eye."  The  pillow  is  the 
close  friend  of  meditation,  of  serious  thoughtfulness 
and  freedom  of  conscience,  in  so  far  as  it  gives  the 
faithful  inmate  the  best  of  opportunities  of  administer- 
ing wholesome  reproof 

The  day  is  thine ;  the  night  also  is  thine,  and  with 
like  graciousness  are  they  both  given,  the  one  for  labor, 
and  the  other  for  rest — ^nor  yet  for  rest  alone,  but  also 
for  a  sober  sm^vey  of  past  life,  and  more  particularly  of 


THE  PICTURE   PREACHER. 


309 


^mm 


llliillH 


MORAL  USE  OF  THE  PILLOW. 


When  I  remember  thee  on  my  bed,  and  meditate  on  thee  in  the 
night  watches,  Psa.  Ixiii.  6. Stand  in  aice  and  sin  not:  com- 
mune with  your  own  heart  upon  your  bed,  and  be  still,     Psa.  iv. 

4. 7'he  king^s  heart  is  in  the  hand  of  the  Lord  .  .  ,  ,  he  turneth 

it  whithersoever  he  will.     Pro  v.  xxi.  1. God  speaketh  ,  .  ,  in  a 

dream,  in  a  vision  of  the  night ,  ,  ,  he  openeth  the  ears  of  men  .  ,  . 
that  he  may  withdraw  man  from  his  purpose.     Job  xxx.  14-17. 

On  that  night  could  not  the  king  sleep,  and .  .  .  the  book  of 

records  of  the  chronicles  .  . .  read  before  the  king,     Esth.  vi.  1. 


o 


10  ROYAL   ROAD    TO    HAPPINESS;    OR 


the  day  that  had  fleeted  last.  The  mantle  of  darkness 
which  hides  exterior  objects,  turns  the  busy  mind  upon 
itself,  willingly  or  unwillingly,  according  to  its  moral 
frame  and  habits. 

Human  greatness,  that  lords  it  by  day,  is  not  at  all 
exempt  from  stem  admonishment  on  the  pillow.  Ahas- 
uerus  was  the  richest,  the  most  splendid  and  powerful  of 
all  the  monarchs  of  the  east,  reigning  from  India  unto 
Ethiopia,  '^  over  an  hundred  and  seven  and  twenty  prov- 
inces." After  a  banquet  the  monarch  laid  himself  on  a 
bed  of  gold  amid  an  unrivalled  profusion  of  eastern 
magnificence,  but  on  that  night  the  king  could  not 
sleep.  It  turned  however  to  good.  Of  necessity,  the 
luxurious  despot,  to  relieve  himself  from  sore  restless- 
ness, thought  he  would  take  this  opportunity  to  look 
into  the  affairs  of  his  government  He  called  for  the 
reading  of  the  book  of  the  records  of  the  Chronicles, 
and  finding  that  an  upright  servant,  to  whom  he  owed 
his  life,  had  been  neglected  and  nothing  had  been  done 
for  him;  he  therefore  ordered  him  a  bounteous  reward; 
a  righteous  act  which  would  probably  never  have  been 
done  had  he  not  consulted  his  pillow. 

It  is  upon  the  pillow  that  the  book  of  the  Records 
of  the  Chronicles  is  most  frequently  set  before  the  eyes 
of  those  mortals  who  sadly  misspend  their  time,  and 
abuse  the  high  privileges  of  their  nature!  Conscience 
presents  the  hand  writing,  and  there  is  no  such  thing 
as  turning  their  eyes  away  from  it.  In  vain  they  turn 
and  toss  themselves  on  this  side  and  that,  longing  for 
sleep ;  the  Records  of  the  Chronicles  are  still  in  view, 
and  they  are  fain  to  make  vows  and  solemn  promises 
which  possibly  may  be  heeded  on  the  morrow. 

Projects  of  too  great  hazard,  plans  of  questionable 
nature,  and  doubtful  issue,  resolutions  taken  up  of  a 
sudden,  and  Mdthout  being  duly  weighed ;  these,  en- 
gendered by  the  fever  of  the  day,  are  abandoned,  or 
rectified,  upon  coolly  consulting  the  pillow  So  that 
many  a  one  has   risen  in  the  morning  with  more  rea- 


THE    PICTURE    PREACHER.  311 

sonable  sentiments  and  views  concerning  his  personal 
affairs  than  tliose  with  which  he  had  lain  down.  And 
many  a  one  also,  by  consulting  his  pillow,  has  cooled  hot 
resentment,  and  abandoned  purposes  of  revenge.  It  is 
generally  a  wise  course  to  adopt  the  rule  followed  by 
some  in  their  worldly  affairs,  never  to  close  up  an  impor- 
tant bargain  till  they  ^^have  one  night's  sleep  over  it." 


SUMMARY  CHARACTERISTICS  OF  MANKIND. 

"  Wisdom  and  folly  meet,  mix  and  unite. 
Virtue  and  vice  blend  their  black  and  their  white." 

Inferior  animals  of  the  same  kind  have  in  general  a 
sameness  of  physiognomy,  and  so  trifling  are  the  shades 
of  difference  that  the  portraiture  of  one  individual 
describes  the  whole  species.  But  as  human  animals 
are  accountable  and  subject  to  the  moral  law,  a  mar- 
vellous provision  is  made  in  the  divine  economy  for 
the  identification  of  each  individual.  The  differences 
are  no  fewer,  but  perhaps  more  multifarious  in  the 
features  of  the  mind. 

Of  the  different  features  of  mind,  including  quali- 
ties of  heart  as  they  appear  in  overt  act,  the  following 
are  samples  ;  in  sketching  which  I  am  constrained,  for 
the  sake  of  necessary  brevity,  to  personify  the  twenty- 
six  letters  of  the  alphabet. 

A — Is  noble-spirited,  but  not  charitable;  in  a  public 
subscription  his  name  figures  well,  but  a  Lazar  might 
starve  at  his  gate. 

B — Is  quite  candid  enough  in  respect  to  practice, 
but  if  you  thwart  merely  his  speculative  opinions,  he 
raves  like  a  bear. 

C — Is  a  woman,  peevish  and  querulous  about  little 
things  :  her  heavy  calamities  she  bears  with  pious  re- 
signation, and  with  more  than  masculine  fortitude. 

D — Enters  with  spirit  into  a  laudable  public  under- 
taking, so  the  plan  comes  from  himself,  or  he  has  tlie 


312  EOYAL  KOAD  TO   HAPPINESS;   O:^ 

direction  of  it ;  else  he  will  have  nothing  at  all  to  do 
with  tlie  business — not  he. 

E — Lives  in  the  practice  of  vice,  but  would  insult  a 
man  that  should  say  anything  derogatory  of  the  prin- 
ciples of  virtue. 

F — Takes  pride  in  railing  against  pride;  he  hates 
the  pride  of  fashion,  and  is  proud  of  being  out  of  the 
fashion. 

G — And  his  rib,  abroad  or  in  company,  are  all  butter 
and  honey ;  their  ill  nature  they  save  for  domestic  use. 

H — Ig  easy  of  temper,  but  very  far  from  com- 
passionate ;  his  easiness  of  temper  is  nothing  but 
apathy. 

I — Ig  good  or  ill-tempered,  by  fits  and  starts ; 
now  he  is  so  pleasant  that  nothing  can  anger  him ; 
tlien  again,  he  is  so  touchy  that  nothing  can  please 
him. 

J — Is  rough  and  impetuous,  but  of  a  feeling 
heart;  his  mind,  as  respects  anger,  is  like  punk- 
wood,  that  in  a  moment  catches  fire,  which  as 
quickly  goes  out. 

K — Is  slow  to  anger,    but  much  slower  to  be  ap- 

J)eased ;  once  affi'ont  him,  and  he  is  coolly  your  enemy 
orever. 

L — Is  not  hard  to  be  reconciled  in  a  matter  in  which 
the  fault  lies  altogether  on  the  other  side  ;  but  when  he 
has  been  in  fault  himself,  the  consciousness  of  it  stirs 
his  pride  and  stiffens  his  temper. 

M — Feels  strongly  whatever  relates  to  himself ;  other 
people's  misfortunes  he  bears  with  singular  calmness  of 
fortitude. 

N — Though  possessed  of  no  extraordinary  share  of 
wisdom,  is  affronted  if  you  decline  to  follow  his  ad- 
vice, and  is  equally  affronted  if  anybody  presumes  to 
advise  him. 

0*8  cringing  sycophancy  to  superiors  might  be 
thought  humility,  were  he  not  brutally  imperious  and 
overbearing  to  inferiors  and  dependents. 


THE   PICTURE    PREACHER.  313 

P — Loudly  complains  of  the  needy  friends  he  aban- 
dons to  escape  the  reproach  of  abandoning  them  in 
their  need. 

Q — Frequently  changes  her  friends  for  a  slight 
cause,  or  for  no  cause,  and  always  likes  the  last  the 
best ;  with  her,  friendship  is  like  a  nosegay,  which 
pleases  only  while  it  is  fresh, 

R — Would  appear  well  enough,  but  for  his  affectation 
of  appearing  mighty  well,  which  makes  him  appear 
below  himself;  the  vanity  of  being  thought  important, 
rendering  him  ridiculous, 

S — Tamely  acquiesces  in  what  is  generally  believed, 
because  it  is  generally  believed ;  he  wants  no  other 
proof  of  the  truth  of  a  thing,  than  its  having  a  plu- 
rality of  numbers  on  its  side. 

T — Runs  into  profuse  singularities,  from  the  vanity 
of  appearing  possessed  of  superior  understanding, 

U — Would  not  be  suspected  of  dishonesty,  but  for 
his  frequently  boasting  that  he  is  honest ;  nor  of  want 
of  veracity,  but  for  his  habit  of  propping  his  word  and 
promise  with  asseverations. 

V — Passes  for  wise,  because  he  is  taciturn — ^perad- 
venture  not  so  much  from  gravity  as  stupidity. 

W — Might  please  everybody  with  the  eloquence  and 
good  sense  of  his  conversation,  if  he  only  knew  when 
to  have  done. 

X — ^A  lady  of  fashion,  affects  exquisite  sensibility,  by 
her  look,  her  manner,  and  her  tones  of  voice  ;  such  is 
her  tenderness,  that  she  weeps  over  high-life  scenes  of 
fictitious  distress ;  and  such  is  her  obduracy,  that  she 
regards  with  indifference  those  vulgar  objects  of  real 
distress  that  have  claims  upon  her  practical  charity. 

Y — A  philosopher  of  the  school  of  cosmopolites,  pos- 
sesses a  fund  of  speculative  benevolence,  which  he 
often  makes  use  of  in  word,  but  never  in  deed. 

Z — Endeavors  to  commute  for  his  neglects  and  tres- 
passes in  some  things,  by  a  grave  and  punctilious  ex- 
actness in  others. 

14 


314 


EOYAL   ROAD   TO   HAPPINESS;   OE 


THE  FOKESTER  AND  THE  LION. 


Te  shall  make  you  no  idols  nor  graven  image,  neither , . .  image 

of  stone  ,  .  ,  .  to  bow  down  to  it.     Lev.  xxvi.  1. Their  idols  are 

the  work  of  men'^s  hands, ....  eyes  have  they,  hut  they  see  not ,  .  , 

They  that  make  them  are  like  unto  them.     Psa.  cxv.  4-8. The 

Lord  seeth  not  as  man  seethy  for  man  looketh  on  the  outward  ap- 
pearance, but  the  Lord  looketh  on  the  heart.     I.  Sam.  xvL  Y. 

That  which  is  highly  esteemed  among   nen  is  an  abomination  in 
the  sight  of  God,    Luke  xvL  J  5. 


THE    PICTURE    PREACHER.  315 

THE  FORESTER  AND  THE  LION. 

The  forester  meeting*  with  the  lion  one  day,  they 
discoursed  together  for  a  while  without  differing  much 
in  opinion.  At  last  a  dispute  happening  to  arise  about 
the  point  of  superiority  between  a  man  and  a  lion,  the 
man  wanting  better  argument,  showed  the  lion  a  mar- 
ble monimient,  on  wliich  was  placed  the  statue  of  a 
man  striding  over  a  vanquished  lion.  If  this,  says  the 
lion,  is  all  you  have  to  say  for  it,  let  us  be  the  carvers 
and  we  will  make  the  lion  striding  over  the  man. 

Application, — Contending  parties  are  very  apt  to 
appeal  for  the  truth  to  records  written  by  their  own 
side;  but  nothing  is  more  insignificant.  Such  is  the 
partiality  of  mankind  in  favor  of  themselves,  that  it  is 
almost  impossible  to  come  at  any  certainty  by  reading 
the  accounts  which  are  written  on  one  side  only. 


FILIAL  PIETY. 


The  mind's  eye  dwells  with  less  complacency  on  the 
severe  than  upon  the  milder  virtues  of  human  nature. 
The  just  man,  one  of  stern  integrity,  but  of  a  cold 
heart,  does  not  gain  upon  our  affections  like  the  good 
man,  whose  warm  benevolence  is  seen  in  deeds  of 
charity  and  in  the  whole  round  of  social  and  relative 
duties. 

One  of  the  features  of  human  character,  which  pe- 
culiarly delight  and  charm  every  heart  of  common  sen- 
sibility, is  the  pious  affection  of  children  to  their 
parents ;  nor  is  it  too  much  to  say  that  the  divine  prom- 
ise of  worldly  good  to  those  who  honor  their  father 
and  their  mother,  relates,  in  part,  to  the  good  will  of 
mankind,  with  which  filial  piety  is  almost  always  re- 
warded in  greater  or  less  degree.  As  scarce  anything 
is  regarded  with  more  general  abhorrence  and  detesta- 
tion than  cruelty  of  children  to  their  parents,  or  is  more 


316  BOYAL  ROAD  TO   HAPPINESS;   OR 

frequently  punished,  even  in  this  world,  by  some  re- 
mai-kable  retaliation  of  Providence ;  so,  on  the  other 
hand,  filial  attentions  conciliate  favor  and  multiply 
friends.  A  daughter,  who,  with  affectionate  assiduity, 
nurses  and  consoles  her  father  or  her  mother  in  the 
decrepitude  of  old  age,  in  sickness  and  in  sorrow ;  a 
son,  who  bestows  a  liberal  share  of  his  labor,  or  his 
income,  to  the  support  of  his  needy  parents,  and  does 
what  in  him  lies  to  make  them  comfortable ;  children 
who  thus  discharge  the  debt  of  kindness  and  tender- 
ness, rarely  fail  to  find  friends  in  time  of  need. 

These  remarks  are  made  as  an  introduction  to  the 
following  story,  which,  though  it  has  a  romantic  ap- 
pearance, may  be  credited  as  matter  of  fact. 

"In  the  former  part  of  the  last  century  there  lived  in 
a  large  seaport  of  France  a  merchant,  who  had  carried 
on  trade  with  equal  honor  and  prosperity,  till  he  was 
turned  of  fifty ;  and  then,  by  sudden  and  unavoidable 
losses,  found  himself  unable  to  comply  with  his  en- 
gagements; and  his  wife  and  children,  jn  whom  he 
placed  his  principal  earthly  happiness,  reduced  to  such 
a  situation  as  doubled  his  distress. 

"  His  sole  resource  in  that  situation  was  the  reflec- 
tion that,  upon  the  strictest  review  of  his  own  conduct, 
nothing  either  of  iniquity  or  imprudence  appeared. 
He  thought  it  best,  therefore,  to  repair  to  Paris,  in 
order  to  lay  a  true  state  of  his  affairs  before  his  cred- 
itors, that,  being  convinced  of  his  honesty,  they  might 
be  induced  to  pity  his  misfortunes  and  allow  him  a  rea- 
sonable space  of  time  to  settle  his  affairs.  He  was 
kindly  received  by  some,  and  very  civilly  by  all ;  from 
whence  he  received  great  hope,  which  he  communicated 
to  his  family.  But  these  were  speedily  dashed  by  the 
cruelty  of  his  principal  creditor,  who  caused  him  to  be 
seized  and  sent  to  jail. 

"  As  soon  as  this  melancholy  event  was  known  in 
the  country,  his  eldest  son,  who  was  tm-ned  of  nine- 
teen, listening  only  to  the  dictates  of  filial  piety,  came 


THE   PICTURE   PREACHER.  317 

post  to  Paris,  and  threw  himself  at  the  feet  of  the  ob- 
durate creditor,  to  whom  he  painted  the  distress  of  the 
family  in  the  most  pathetic  terms,  but  without  effect. 
At  length,  in  the  greatest  agony  of  mind,  he  said,  *  Sir, 
since  you  think  nothing  can  compensate  for  your  loss, 
but  a  victim,  let  your  resentment  devolve  upon  me. 
Let  me  suffer  instead  of  my  father,  and  the  miseries  of 
prison  will  seem  light  in  procuring  the  liberty  of  a 
parent,  to  console  the  sorrows  of  the  distracted  and  de- 
jected family  that  I  have  left  behind  me.  Thus,  sir, 
you  will  satisfy  your  vengeance,  without  sealing  their 
irretrievable  ruin.'  And  there  his  tears  and  sighs 
stopped  his  utterance. 

^^  His  father's  creditor  beheld  him  upon  his  knees,  in 
this  condition,  for  a  full  quarter  of  an  hour.  He  then 
sternly  bid  him  rise  and  sit  down,  which  he  obeyed. 
The  gentleman  then  walked  from  one  side  of  the  room 
to  the  other,  in  great  agitation  of  mind,  for  about  the 
same  space  of  time.  At  length,  throwing  his  arms  about 
the  young  m^n's  neck,  ^I  find,'  said  he,  ^ there  is  yet 
something  more  valuable  than  money ;  I  have  an  only 
daughter,  for  whose  fate  I  have  the  utmost  anxiety.  I 
am  resolved  to  fix  it ;  in  marrying  you  she  must  be 
happy.  Go,  carry  your  father's  discharge,  ask  his  con- 
sent, bring  him  instantly  hither,  and  let  us  bury  in  the 
joy  of  this  alliance,  all  remembrance  of  what  has  for- 
merly happened.' " 

We  present  here  another  anecdote  illustrating  filial 
piety,  as  related  in  an  English  publication : 

^*  A  poor  widow  had  an  only  son,  who  having  lived 
a  most  profligate  life,  at  length  listed,  went  abroad,  and 
fought  under  Lord  Wellington  in  the  Peninsula.  Some 
time  after,  the  companion  of  this  youth  listed  in  the 
same  regiment,  and  before  he  left  for  the  army,  he 
called  upon  the  poor  widow  to  inquire  if  she  wished  to 
send  anything  to  her  son. 

**  She  replied,  ^  No  1  1  have  nothing  to  send  him,  but 
you  may  tell  him  that  his  impiety  has  almost  broke  my 


318  ROYAL   ROAD   TO   HAPPINESS:   OR 

heart' — ^then  suddenly  recollecting  herself,  she  said, 
*  Stay,  I  will  send  him  something ;  give  him  this  Bible, 
and  say  it  was  the  last  request  of  his  broken-hearted 
mother  that  he  would  read  one  chapter  of  it  every  day.' 

**  When  he  had  joined  his  old  companion,  they  re- 
solved to  take  the  advice  of  the  old  lady,  and  began 
the  New  Testament  together,  and  got  as  far  as  the  third 
chapter  of  John,  where  it  speaks  of  a  regeneration,  and 
that  they  could  not  understand  ;  but  luckily  there  was 
an  old  soldier  in  the  regiment  who  was  able  to  explain 
it  to  them,  and  which  was  the  cause  of  their  conver- 
sion ! 

^*  Shortly  after  the  poor  youth  was  mortally  wounded 
in  an  engagement,  and  he  was  found  on  the  field  with 
the  Bible  in  his  hand,  oovered  with  blood,  and  in  that 
state  it  was  returned  to  his  mother. 


COVETOUS  MAN  AND  HIS  TREASURE. 

A  poor,  covetous  wretch,  who  had  scraped  together 
a  good  parcel  of  money,  went  and  dug  a  hole  in  one 
of  his  fields  and  hid  it.  The  great  pleasm-e  of  his  life 
was  to  go  and  look  upon  his  treasure  once  a  day,  at 
least,  which  one  of  his  servants  observing,  and  guess- 
ing there  was  something  more  than  ordinary  in  the 
place,  came  at  night,  found  it,  and  carried  it  ofi".  The 
next  day,  the  miser  on  returning  as  usual  to  the  scene 
of  his  delight,  and  perceiving  it  had  been  ravished 
away  from  him,  tore  his  hair  for  grief  and  uttered  the 
doleful  complaints  of  his  despair  to  the  woods  and 
meadows.  At  last,  a  neighbor  of  his,  who  knew  his 
temper,  overhearing  him  and  being  informed  of  the 
occasion  of  his  sorrow,  said,  **  Cheer  up,  my  man,  thou 
hast  lost  nothing ;  there  is  the  hole  for  thee  to  go  and 
peep  at  still,  and  if  thou  canst  but  fancy  the  money 
there  it  will  do  just  as  well." 


THE   PICTURE   PREACHER. 


319 


•*^«miiu;ia.ixa«9«Siiiivrih»£!yjimn\riiw^^^^ 


THE  COVETOUS  MAN  AND  HIS  TREASURE. 


Lay  riQt  up  for  yourselves  treasures  upon  earthy  where  moth  and 
rust  doth  corrupt^  and  where  thieves  break  through  and  steal,  .... 
for  where  your  treasure  is,  there  your  heart  will  be  also.     Matt.  vi. 

1 9. There  is  that  mdketh  himself  rich  yet  hath  nothing.     Pro  v. 

xiii.  7. He  heapeth  up  riches  and  knoweth  not  who  shall  gather 

them,     Psa.  xxx.  6, Take  heed  and  beware  of  covetousness,  for 

a  man's  life  conslsteth  not  in  the  abundance  of  the  things  he  pos- 

sesseth,     Luke  xii.  15. Covetousness  which  is  idolatry.     Col. 

iii.  5. 


320        ROYAL  ROAD  TO  HAPPINESS;  OR 

Application. — Of  all  the  appetites  to  which  human 
nature  is  subject,  none  is  so  strong,  so  lasting  and  at  the 
same  time  so  unaccountable,  as  that  of  avarice.  Our 
other  desires  generally  cool  and  slacken  sit  the 
approach  of  old  age,  but  this  flourishes  under  gray 
hairs  and  triumphs  amid  impotence  and  infirmity. 

All  our  other  longings  have  something  to  be  said  in 
excuse  for  them,  let  them  be  at  what  time  of  life  so- 
ever. But  it  is  above  reason,  and  therefore  truly  in- 
comprehensible, why  a  man  should  be  passionately 
fond  of  money,  only  for  the  sake  of  counting  and  gaz- 
ing upon  it. 

His  treasure  is  as  useful  to  him  as  a  heap  of  oyster 
shells,  for  though  he  knows  how  many  substantial 
pleasures  it  is  able  to  procure,  yet  he  dare  not  touch  it 
and  is  as  destitute  of  money,  to  all  intents  and  pur- 
poses, as  the  man  who  is  not  worth  a  groat. 

This  is  the  true  state  of  a  covetous  person.  To 
this,  one  of  the  fraternity  may  possibly  make  this 
reply :  that  when  we  have  said  all,  since  pleasure  is 
the  grand  aim  of  life,  if  there  arises  a-  delight  to  some 
particular  person  from  the  bare  possession  of  riches, 
though  he  does  not  ever  intend  to  make  use  of  them, 
we  ought  not  to  object. 

True ;  people  would  be  in  the  wrong  to  paint  covet- 
ousness  in  such  odious  colors  were  it  but  compatible 
with  innocence.  But  here  arises  the  mischief.  A  truly 
covetous  m^i  will  stick  at  nothing  to  attain  his  ends, 
and  when  once  avarice  takes  the  field,  honesty,  char- 
ity, humanity,  and,  to  be  brief,  every  virtue  which 
opposes  it,  is  sure  to  be  put  to  the  rout.  And  it  thus 
proves  to  be  an  absorbing,  devilish  passion.  The  lewd 
man,  seeing  the  mischief  he  has  wrought  upon  his  in- 
nocent victim,  will  often,  in  his  cooler  moments,  be 
filled  with  remorse,  but  the  avaricious  person  never 
does,  for  the  passion  never  softens,  but  ever  bums  aa 
an  unquenchable  fire,  the  bounds  of  which  ever  in- 
crease with  his  increase  of  treasure. 


THE   PICTURE    PREACHER.  321 

THE    ANXIOUS   FATHER  AND  HIS  ABSENT 

BOY. 

We  see  in  the  engraving-  a  father  in  deep  medita- 
tion. He  is  anxiously  thinking  of  his  children,  and 
of  their  future  welfare,  when  in  the  course  of  nature  he 
shall  have  passed  away.  One  has  well  said,  *^  It  is 
often  best  not  to  know  too  much ;  we  are  happier  for 
not  knowing  all." 

The  father,  of  whom  we  are  speaking,  had  all  his 
children  living  with  him  with  but  one  exception.  All 
the  family  at  home  had  been  carefully  brought  up  by 
him  from  their  earliest  childhood,  and  such  had  been 
the  effect  of  his  instruction  on  their  tender  minds,  that 
he  had  full  confidence  in  their  future  good  conduct, 
and  that  they  would  become  a  blessing  to  all  about 
them.  His  absent  boy  who  had  gone  to  live  with  a 
relative  in  the  far  West  was  seldom  heard  from.  The 
last  news  was  that  an  Indian  war  was  raging  in  the 
distant  territory  where  he  was  located,  and  that  many 
of  the  settlers  had  been  killed  or  taken  captives. 

The  above  news  of  course  added  to  the  anxiety  of 
the  father,  not  knowing  but  that  his  absent  son  might 
have  been  killed  or  carried  off  captive  by  the  Indians. 
But  it  appears  he  was  in  a  far  more  perilous  situation 
near  his  uncle's  house  than  he  would  have  been  as  a 
captive  among  the  Indians. 

The  engraving  shows  two  scenes  which  it  is  supposed 
took  place  at  the  same  moment  a  thousand  miles  dis- 
tant from  each  other.  The  first  scene  shows  the  father 
sitting  comparatively  at  his  ease,  tranquil,  but  in  deep 
meditation.  He  is  thinking  about  his  absent  son,  in- 
wardly exclaiming,  "  0,  how  happy  I  should  be  if  I 
could  only  know  where  my  absent  boy  is  and  how  he 
is  at  this  moment  situated."  The  second  scene  in  the 
print  shows  the  absent  boy  in  mid-air  falling  from  a 
tree  which  he  had  climbed  to  obtain  fruit.  *^  What  a 
mercy  to   his  father   and  his   family  that  they  know 

14* 


322 


BOYAL  BOAD   TO   HAPPINESS;   OR 


0J»  •*  .■«• 


KMOWLEDGE 

mercifully 

WITH  HELD,,  a 


THE  ANXIOUS  FATHER  AND  HIS  ABSENT  BOY, 


Commit  thy  way  unto  the  Lord^  trust  also  in  him  and  he  shall 

bring  it  to  pass.     Psa.  xxxvii.  6. Take  therefore  no  thought 

for  the  morrow sufficient  unto  the  day  is  the  evil  thereof. 

Matt.  vL  34. Casting  all  your  care  upon  him,^  for  he  careth 

for  you.     1.  Pet.  v.  7. It  is  better  to  trust  ^?i  the  Loiyl^  than  to 

put  confidence  in  man.     Psa.  cxviii.  8. The  Most  High  ruleth 

in  the  kingdom,  of  men,     Dan.  iv.  25, 


THE    PICTURE   PREACHER.  323 

nothing  of  this/  exclaim  those  who  saw  him,  stunned 
by  the  fall,  lying  motionless  and  apparently  dead  on 
the  ground. 

The  following  maxims  or  rules  of  action  might,  if 
strictly  observed,  go  far  to  increase  the  happiness,  or, 
at  least,  to  diminish  the  inquietudes  and  miseries  of 
life. 

Live  constantly  in  the  unshaken  belief  of  the  over- 
ruling providence  of  an  infinitely  wise  and  good,  as 
well  as  Almighty  Being,  and  prize  his  power  above  all 
things. 

Observe  inviolably  truth  in  your  words,  and  integ- 
rity in  your  actions. 

Accustom  yom-self  to  temperance  and  to  be  master 
of  your  passions. 

Be  not  too  much  out  of  humor  with  the  world,  but 
remember  it  is  a  world  of  God's  creating,  and  however 
sadly  it  is  marred  by  wickedness  and  folly,  yet  you 
have  found  in  it  more  comfort  than  calamities,  more 
civilities  than  aflronts,  more  instances  of  kindness 
toward  you  than  of  cruelty. 

Never  make  an  enemy  or  lose  a  friend  unnecesarily. 
Cultivate  such  an  habitual  cheerfulness  of  disposition 
and  evenness  of  mind,  and  calmness  of  temper,  as  not 
to  be  ruffled  by  trivial  inconveniences  and  crosses. 

Be  ready  to  heal  breaches  in  friendship,  and  to  make 
up  differences ;  and  shun  litigation  yourself  as  much 
as  possible,  for  he  is  an  ill  calculator  who  does  not  per- 
ceive that  one  amicable  settlement  is  better  than  two 
law  suits. 

Despise  not  small  honest  gains,  nor  risk  what  you 
have  on  the  delusive  prospect  of  sudden  riches.  If 
you  are  in  a  comfortable,  thriving  way,  keep  in  it,  and 
abide  in  your  own  calling  rather  than  to  run  the 
chance  of  another.  In  a  word,  mind  to  **use  the 
world  as  not  abusing  it,"  and  you  will  probably  find  in 
it  as  it  is,  a  fit  place  for  a  frail  being  who  is  merely 
journeying  through  it  to  an  immortal  abode 


324  ROYAL   ROAD   TO   HAPPINESS;   OR 

WINMNa  THE  ATTENTION  OF  CHILDREN. 

The  great  Locke,  a  man  of  almost  unrivalled  depth 
and  acuteness  of  understanding,  in  his  excellent  treatise 
on  education,  expresses  himself  as  here  follows :  ^^  He 
that  has  found  a  way  how  to  keep  up  a  child^s  spirit  easy, 
active,  and  free,  and  yet,  at  the  same  time,  to  restrain 
him  from  many  things  he  has  a  mind  to,  and  to  draw 
him  to  things  that  are  uneasy,  to  him ;  he,  I  say,  that 
knows  how  to  reconcile  these  seeming  contradictions, 
has,  in  my  opinion,  got  the  true  secret  of  education." 

Tacitus,  the  Roman  historian,  remarked  of  Agricola, 
"  that  he  governed  his  family,  which  many  find  a  harder 
task  than  to  govern  a  province." 

The  true  power  over  children  is  that  of  swaying 
their  inclinations;  of  withdrawing  their  inclinations 
from  one  direction,  and  settling  them  down  in  another. 
It  is  not  hard  words,  nor  hard  blows,  tliat  can  gain 
this  point.  The  will  is  wrought  upon  by  other  meth- 
ods. Of  ^uany  examples  which  might  go  to  illustrate 
this  matter,  I  will  adduce  one,  and  a  notable  one. 

Horatio  Nelson,  so  famous  in  naval  history,  had  at 
first  an  utter  aversion  to  the  sea ;  for  which,  in  no  long 
time,  he  came  to  be  extravagantly  fond.  And  what 
miracle,  or  magic,  wrought  this  change  in  him  I  It 
was  wrought  neither  by  miracle,  nor  by  magic,  but  by 
a  very  natural  process.  The  captain,  who  was  his 
uncle,  caressed  the  boy,  treated  him  with  familiarity 
and  confidence,  and  not  unfrequently  consulted  him  as 
if  he  were  a  man,  and  his  equal.  This  management 
enkindled  in  him  the  dormant  sparks  of  genius  and 
emulation,  and  changed,  as  it  were,  his  inward  frame. 
He  was  quite  another  boy.  From  diflidence.and  sheep- 
ish, he  at  once  became  most  active  and  enterprising ; 
and  from  loathing  the  service,  his  whole  inclination 
was  bent  upon  excelling  in  it.  Had  his  boyhood  fallen 
into  difi*erent  hands,  he  might  probably  have  turned  out 
a  very  diflferent  character. 


THE    PICTURE    PREACHER.  325 

In  whatever  you  would  leam  children,  the  main 
thing  is  to  bring  their  minds  to  it  in  good  earnest;  after 
which  the  rest  is  easy.  In  their  play  they  are  all 
alike  active,  because  they  all  love  it ;  and  so  it  would 
be  as  to  their  learning,  if  they  could  be  once  brought 
to  love  that  as  well  as  they  love  play.  For  it  is  gen- 
erally for  want  of  attention,  rather  than  of  sufficient 
faculties,  that  children  are  dull  to  leam ;  and  in  exciting 
and  fixing  their  attention,  the  great  art  of  the  teacher 
lies. 

Now  the  habit  of  attention,  that  is,  attention  of  the 
genuine  sort,  is  seldom  or  never  wrought  in  them  by 
operating  merely  upon  their  fears.  The  proper  atten- 
tion springs  from  a  real  delight  in  the  thing  they  are 
about  This  is  wrought  in  them  by  awakening  the 
more  generous  feelings  of  their  nature — the  love  of 
esteem,  and  the  desire  of  excelling. 

And  as  in  learning,  so  in  whatever  reputable  and 
useful  employment  else,  the  young  mind,  by  skillful 
management  might  be  made  to  prefer  it,  and  to  take 
more  pleasure  in  it,  than  in  doing  nothing.  The 
busiest  age  is  that  of  childhood.  It  is  then  they  are 
most  inclined  to  be  ever  about  something,  and  make  it 
their  chief  delight  to  keep  moving.  This  seems  to 
furnish  clear  proof  that  industry  is  natural  to  our 
species ;  in  which  case  education  has  little  else  to  do 
than  to  give  it  a  proper  direction.  Children  who,  of 
their  own  accord,  play  with  unweariable  industry, 
might  always,  perhaps,  be  induced  to  apply  themselves, 
at  the  proper  age,  with  the  like  spontaneous  industry, 
to  things  of  importance.  But  then  in  order  to  it  their 
inclinations  must  be  led  rather  than  forced.  Play  itself 
would  presently  become  irksome  and  disgustful  to 
children  if  they  were  driven  to  it,  and  kept  at  it,  by 
main  force.  And  much  less  can  you  expect  they  will 
be  diligent  and  active  in  business,  unless  you  so  pre- 
vail over  their  inclinations  as  that  they  choose  it  of 
their  own  free  will :  a  thing  of  no  great  difficulty,  for 


326  ROYAL   ROAD   TO   HAPPINESS;    OR 

the  most  part,  if  it  be  set  about  in  season,  and  con- 
ducted with  prudence. 

There  is  a  great  difference  between  lumpish  laziness 
and  frisky  idleness.  One  who  is  too  lazy  to  move  him- 
self about  is  diseased  in  the  very  core,  and  there  is  no 
help  for  him.  Of  such,  however,  the  number  is  small. 
Whereas,  the  numerous  tribe  of  idlers,  or  of  such  as 
spend  their  time  without  profit  to  themselves  or  others, 
are  generally,  nevertheless,  frivolously  busy,  and  quite 
active  in  their  own  way ;  and  had  they  been  tutored 
aright  in  their  early  years,  their  natural  activity  might 
have  turned  to  excellent  account. 

There  are  some  whose  manner  toward  their  children 
varies  in  exact  proportion  to  the  variations  of  their  own 
fickle  tempers.  When  in  a  pleasant  humor  themselves, 
they  indulge  them  in  everything ;  when  moody,  and 
especially  when  downright  angry,  they  will  punish  for 
almost  nothing.  This  sort  of  government,  if  govern- 
ment it  may  be  called,  is  nearly  as  bad  as  none ;  it 
tends  alike  to  discourage  the  little  ones  and  to  breed 
contempt. 

Some  seem  to  think  that  the  sure  way  of  gaining 
and  keeping  the  affections  of  their  children,  is  never 
to  thwart  their  inclinations ;  but  experience  sooner  or 
later  discovers  to  them  their  mistake.  Children  that 
have  been  treated  with  unlimited  indulgence,  often, 
very  often,   not   only   despise  the   counsels  of  their 

Sarents,  but  unfeelingly  neglect  their  persons  when 
estitute  and  needy;  the  overweening  indulgence 
given  them  having  soured  their  tempers  and  corrupted 
their  hearts. 

Others,  running  into  the  opposite  error,  apply  their 
discipline  altogether  to  the  fears  of  their  children, 
whom  they  unfortunately  treat  with  stern  and  inflexible 
severity.  They  are  feared  indeed,  but  it  is  with  a 
hopeless,  joyless,  unaffectionate  fear  ;  and  by  thus  treat- 
ing their  children  as  if  they  were  entirely  base,  they 
take  the  ready  way  to  make  them  so. 


THE    PICTURE    PREACHER. 

MEDDLERS    AND    BUSY-BODIES. 

Society  has  been  infested  in  all  ages  with  persons 
prone  to  intrude  themselves  into  the  concerns  of  their 
neighbors ;  with  tattlers,  busy-bodies  and  inter  med- 
dlers, who  must  needs  have  their  spoons  in  every- 
body's porringer.  Some  of  this  sort  are  quite  ingen- 
ious in  their  way,  and  so  much  the  worse,  for  by  how 
much  greater  is  their  ingenuity,  by  so  much  the  more 
mischief  they  do  ;  their  minds  resembling  a  fertile  soil, 
which,  for  want  of  proper  culture,  bear  nothing  but 
weeds  and  poisonous  plants. 

Not  but  that,  now  and  then,  an  officious  inter  med- 
dler, or  even  a  tale-bearer,  may  mean  no  harm,  the 
one  being  actuated  by  an  undue  opinion  of  his  own 
importance,  and  the  other  from  the  vanity  of  appearing 
to  know  the  characters  and  the  concerns  of  all  about 
him.  But  intentional  sowers  of  discord,  who,  from 
envy,  malice,  or  the  love  of  mischief,  employ  them- 
selves in  breeding  dissensions  in  families  and  neigh- 
borhoods, are  well-nigh  as  pestilent  as  thieves  and  rob- 
bers, and  the  less  they  are  punishable  by  civil  law,  the 
more  should  they  be  made  to  feel  that  species  of  pun- 
ishment which  public  opinion  inflicts. 

Parents  and  preceptors  can  hardly  do  a  better  ser- 
vice for  their  children,  than  by  principling  their  minds 
and  fixing  their  hearts  against  faults  so  pernicious  to 
society  and  so  ruinous  to  character ;  faults  which  are 
curable  when  they  first  appear  in  the  young  mind,  but 
which  grow  into  inveterate  habits  by  the  indulgence  of 
neglect.  It  is  hardly  conceivable  what  a  vast  amount 
of  evil  might  be  prevented,  if  the  young  were  taught  as 
generally  and  as  carefully  in  this  particular,  as  they 
are  in  the  first  rudiments  of  learning. 

There  is  a  fault,  however,  directly  opposite  to  that 
of  officiously  meddling  with  the  concerns  of  our  neigh- 
bors ;  I  mean  the  absence  of  all  heartfelt  concern  for 
any  but  ourselves  and  our  near  kin.     This  fault,  how- 


328        ROYAL  ROAD  TO  HAPPINESS;  OR 

ever  artfully  it  may  be  covered,  springs  for  the  most 
part  from  sordid  selfishness,  or  from  anti-social  apathy 
of  heart. 

Selfishness,  which  is  the  love  of  self  and  everything 
else  for  the  sake  of  self,  has  the  power  of  keeping  some 
persons  at  a  vast  distance  from  intermeddling  with 
their  neighbors^  afi*airs,  for  which  they  care  not  a  straw 
any  farther  than  such  extraneous  afiairs  have  a  bearing 
upon  their  own  personal  interests.  So  also  the  cold- 
hearted,  in  whose  bosoms  is  the  perpetual  calm  of 
apathy,  trouble  not  their  neighbors  as  busy-bodies  in 
their  matters,  because  they  have  not  enough  energy  of 
soul  either  to  love  or  to  hate  in  good  earnest.  Now  it 
often  falls  out  that  some  belonging  to  each  of  these  two 
classes  value  themselves  mightily  upon  their  practical 
abstraction  from  all  concerns  but  their  own,  and  boast 
of  it  as  a  shining  virtue.  ^^  We  are  not  meddlers,  not 
we.  It  is  our  manner  to  mind  our  own  business,  and 
to  let  all  other  folks  alone."  Nevertheless,  if  they  would 
open  the  folds  of  their  own  hearts  and  observe  fairly 
what  is  going  on  there,  they  would  find  that  their  not 
being  meddlers  is  owing  to  anything  else  rather  than 
to  a  pure  principle  of  virtue. 

And  here  it  is  not  unimportant  to  remark  that  it  is 
no  less  the  purpose  and  business  of  proper  education  to 
foster  and  encourage  the  social  feelings  of  our  nature, 
than  it  is  to  eradicate  dispositions  of  intrusive  med- 
dling, for  if  one  without  all  warmth  of  heart  any  way, 
be  seldom  tempted  to  become  a  busy-body  in  other 
men's  matters,  he  as  seldom  is  much  better  than  a  mere 
blank  in  society — doing  little  mischief  and  as  little  good. 

*^  Am  I  my  brother's  keeper  ?"  We  know  who  said 
it.  And  so,  in  manifold  instances,  when  one  is  ruining 
himself  and  family  by  the  mismanagement  of  his 
affairs,  or  when  one  betrays  the  symptoms  of  an  in- 
ceptive vice,  which,  growing  into  a  habit,  will  land  him 
in  perdition,  his  neighbors  coolly  look  on,  saying  in 
their  hearts,  and  to  one  another,  ^^  It  is  his  own  affair." 


THE    PICTURE    PREACHER.  329 

Not  employing  a  single  effort  to  save  him,  though  often, 
between  themselves,  they  shake  the  head,  and  remark 
that  he  is  in  the  road  to  ruin.  Perhaps  it  is  a  youth 
that  is  supposed  to  have  stepped  into  this  fatal  road ;  a 
young  man  of  goodly  promise,  or  a  young  woman  of 
amiable  dispositions,  but  wanting  discretion.  Perhaps 
that  youth  is  an  orphan,  and  errs  for  lack  of  the  guid- 
ing hand  of  a  parent.  It  is  all  the  same.  Everybody 
is  sorry,  mighty  sorry,  indeed,  but  nobody  moves  the 
tongue,  or  lifts  a  finger,  for  the  purpose  of  rescue  or 
prevention. 

It  is  not  so  that  we  act  in  other  respects.  We  strug- 
gle hard  to  save  a  fellow-being  that  is  drowning  before 
our  eyes.  Should  we  see  a  man  stand  upon  the  brink 
of  a  frightful  precipice  and  unconscious  of  his  danger, 
doubtless  we  would  instantly  give  him  warning.  Hardly 
would  we  neglect  to  snatch  either  the  empoisoned 
bowl  from  the  lips  of  one  that  mistook  the  poison  for  a 
wholesome  beverage,  or  the  knife  or  razor  from  the 
throat  of  a  man  or  woman  in  the  act  of  committing 
suicide.  Common  humanity  impels  us  to  acts  of  this 
sort.  And  yet  when  we  see  in  scarcely  less  jeopardy 
of  another  kind,  a  neighbor,  an  acquaintance — one 
whom  the  offices  of  discreet  and  faithful  friendship  might, 
peradventure,  rescue  and  restore — we  are  listless — we 
let  him  alone — we^U  not  meddle — 'tis  his  own  affair ! 


GOING  JUST  RIGHT  OR  A  LITTLE  WRONG. 

Amos  Lawrence,  the  celebrated  philanthropist — ^boril 
in  Groton,  Massachusetts,  in  1786,  died  in  1852 — gave 
away  for  benevolent  purposes  in  the  course  of  his  life 
more  than  seven  hundi^ed  thousand  dollars. 

When  he  was  a  lad  of  thirteen  he  was  placed  in  a 
New  England  country  store,  where  he  learned  to  sell 
rum  and  brandy  by  the  puncheon  and  by  the  pint ; 
cloth  by  the  bale  and  the  yard ;  tobacco  in  kegs  and 


330        ROYAL  ROAD  TO  HAPPINESS;  OR 

tobacco  in  plugs ;  together  with  tea-kettles,  molasses, 
silks,  gimlets,  indigo,  grindstones,  rhubarb,  school 
books,  etc. 

During  this  apprenticeship  of  young  Lawrence,  and 
years  after,  it  was  customary  throughout  New  England 
for  clerks  and  apprentices,  journeymen  and  employers 
to  prepare  ardent  spirits  in  some  form  to  be  drank  in 
the  middle  of  the  forenoon.  In  common  with  the  other 
clerks,  he  partook  of  the  pleasant  beverage,  until  he 
found  himself  longing  for  the  stimulus,  as  the  hour  of 
serving  it  approached,  when  he  had  the  will  power  to 
abandon  the  dangerous  habit. 

Many  years  after  he  wrote  to  a  friend  in  regard  to  it 
as  follows :  ^^  In  the  first  place  take  this  for  your  motto, 
at  the  commencement  of  your  journey  of  life,  that  the 
difference  of  going  just  right  or  a  little  wrong  will 
be  the  difference  of  finding  yourself  in  good  quarters, 
or  a  miserable  bog  at  the  end  of  it. 

^*  Of  the  whole  number  educated  in  the  Groton 
stores,  for  some  years  before  and  after  myself,  not  one 
to  my  knowledge  escaped  the  bog  or  slough  ;  and  my 
escape  I  trace  to  the  simple  fact  of  my  having  put  a 
restraint  upon  my  appetite. 

^'  We  five  boys  were  in  the  habit,  every  forenoon,  of 
making  a  drink  compounded  of  rum,  raisins,  sugar, 
nutmeg,  etc.,  with  biscuit — all  palatable  to  ea,t  and 
drink.  After  being  in  the  store  four  weeks,  I  found 
myself  admonished,  by  my  appetite,  of  the  approach 
of  the  hour  for  indulgence.  Thinking  the  habit  might 
make  trouble,  if  allowed  to  grow  stronger,  without 
further  apology  to  my  seniors,  I  declined  partaking 
with  them.  My  first  resolution  was  to  abstain  for  a 
week,  and  then  for  a  year.  Finally,  I  resolved  to  ab- 
stain for  the  rest  of  my  apprenticeship,  which  was  for 
five  years  longer.  During  that  whole  period  I  never 
drank  a  spoonful,  though  I  mixed  gallons  daily  for  my 
old  master  and  his  customers. 

**  I  decided  not  to  be  a  slave  to  tobacco  in  any  form, 


THE    PICTURE    PREACHER.  331 

though  I  loved  the  odor  of  it  then,  and  even  now  have 
in  my  drawer  a  superior  Havana  cigar,  given  me  not 
long  since  by  a  friend,  but  only  to  smell  of.  I  have 
never  in  my  life  smoked  a  cigar ;  never  chewed  but  one 
quid,  and  that  was  before  I  was  fifteen ;  and  never  took 
an  ounce  of  snuff,  though  the  scented  rappee  of  forty 
years  ago  had  great  cliarms  for  me.  Now,  I  say,  to 
this  simple  fact  of  starting  just  right,  am  I  indebted, 
with  God's  blessing  on  my  labors,  for  my  present  posi- 
tion, as  well  as  that  of  numerous  connections  sprung 
up  around  me." 

After  leaving  school  and  going  into  the  store,  he 
writes  on  another  occasion  :  **  There  was  not  a  month 
passed  before  I  became  impressed  with  the  opinion  that 
restraint  upon  appetite  was  necessary  to  prevent  the 
slavery  I  saw  destroying  numbers  around  me.  Many 
and  many  of  the  farmers,  mechanics,  and  apprentices 
of  that  day  have  filled  drunkards^  graves,  and  have  left 
destitute  families  and  friends." 

Another  extract  referring  to  certain  regulations 
adopted  in  the  house  where  he  boarded,  may  also 
throw  some  light  upon  his  early  course  as  a  successful 
business  man.  ^^The  only  rule  I  ever  made  was,  that 
after  supper  all  the  boarders  who  remained  in  the  public 
room  should  remain  quiet  at  least  one  hour,  to  give  those 
who  chose  to  study  or  read  an  opportunity  of  doing  so 
without  distm'bance.  The  consequence  was  that  we 
had  the  most  quiet  and  improving  set  of  young  men 
in  the  town.  The  few  who  did  not  wish  to  comply 
with  the  regulation  went  abroad  after  tea,  sometimes 
to  the  theater,  sometimes  to  other  places,  but,  to  a  mauy 
became  bankrupt  in  after  life,  not  only  in  fortune,  but 
in  reputation  ;  while  a  majority  of  the  other  class  sus- 
tained good  characters,  and  some  are  now  living  who 
are  ornaments  to  society,  and  fill  important  stations." 

To  his  son  in  the  country  he  at  another  time  writes  : 
'*  I  want  you  to  analyze  more  closely  the  tendency  of 
principles,  associations,   and  conduct,    and  strive   to 


332 


ROYAL   ROAD   TO   HAPPINESS;    OR 


^^^^t^^:^^r"^^^^^^^^§^^ 


THE  ONE-EYED  DOE. 


See  then  that  ye  walk  circumspectly^  not  as  fools^  hut  as  wise. 

Epb.  V.  15. A  prudent  man/orseeth  the  evil .  .  .  but  the  simple 

pass  on  and  are  punished.     Pro  v.  xxii.  3. Watch  therefore; 

for  ye  know  not  what  hour  your  Lord  doth  come.  Matt.  xxiv.  42. 
Beware  of  dogs^  beware  of  evil  workers,  beware  of  the  concis- 
ion,    Phil,  lit  2. 


THE   PICTURE   PREACHER.  333 

adopt  such  as  will  make  it  easier  for  you  to  go  right 
than  to  go  wrong.  The  moral  taste,  like  the  natural, 
is  vitiated  by  abuse  Gluttony,  tobacco,  and  intoxi- 
cating drinks  are  not  less  dangerous  to  the  latter,  than 
loose  principles,  bad  associations,  and  profligate  con- 
duct are  to  the  former.     Look  well  to  all  these  things. '' 


THE   ONE-EYED   DOE. 

A  doe,  blind  of  an  eye,  was  accustomed  to  graze  as 
near  the  edge  of  the  cliff  as  she  possibly  could,  in  hope 
of  securing  greater  safety.  She  turned  her  sound 
eye  toward  the  land  so  that  she  could  see  the  first  ap- 
pearance of  the  hunter  or  hound  in  the  distance,  and 
kept  her  injured  eye  toward  the  sea,  from  which  she 
apprehended  no  danger.  Some  boatmen  sailing  by  saw 
her,  and  taking  a  successful  aim,  mortally  wounded  her. 
Yielding  up  her  breath,  she  gasped  forth  this  lament : 
*'  O  wretched  creature  that  I  am !  to  take  such  precau-r 
tion  against  the  land  side,  and  after  to  find  the  sea- 
shore, to  which  I  had  come  for  safety,  more  perilous, 
and  the  means  of  my  death." 

Application. — Life  is  so  full  of  accidents  and  uncer- 
tainties, that,  with  all  the  precaution  we  use,  we  can 
never  be  said  to  be  entirely  free  from  danger.  And 
though  there  is  but  one  way  for  us  to  come  into  the 
world,  the  passages  to  let  us  out  of  it  are  innumerable. 
So  that  we  may  guard  ourselves  against  the  most 
visible  and  threatening  ills  as  much  as  we  please,  but 
shall  still  leave  an  unguarded  side  to  a  thousand  latent 
mischiefs,  which  lie  in  ambush  round  about  us.  The 
moral,  therefore,  which  such  a  reflection  suggests  to  us 
is,  to  be  neither  too  secure  nor  too  solicitous  about  the 
safety  of  our  persons ;  as  it  is  impossible  for  us  to  be 
always  out  of  danger,  so  would  it  be  unreasonable  and 
unmanly  to  be  always  in  fear  of  that  which  it  is  not  in 
our  power  to  prevent. 


334  ROYAL    ROAD   TO    HAPPINESS;    OR 

LIMITS  TO  THE  PLEASURES  OF  SENSE. 

The  pleasures  of  sense  common  to  all  animal  na- 
tures can  admit  of  but  very  little  increase  by  the 
refinements  of  art,  and  at  the  same  time  are  bounded 
and  limited  by  impassable  barriers — ^impassable  be- 
cause you  have  no  sooner  overleaped  them  than  the 
pleasure  is  gone  and  satiety  and  disgust  succeed. 

Sweet  as  is  the  light,  too  much  of  it  would  destroy 
the  organs  of  vision.  Pleasant  as  it  is  to  see  the  sun, 
yet  looking  steadfastly  upon  him  in  his  meridian  glory 
would  cause  pain  and  even  blindness.  The  light  of 
that  luminary  by  which  we  alone  see  objects  is  colored ; 
or  else  our  feeble  organs  of  sight  could  endure  it  scarcely 
for  a  moment.  For  what  if  the  whole  sky,  the  whole 
earth,  and  every  object  above  and  around  us,  shone 
with  the  unmingled  brightness  of  uncolored  light  ?  In 
that  case  the  light  itself  would  become  darkness,  since 
every  eye  must  instantly  be  blinded  by  it. 

And  as  with  light,  so  with  hearing.  A  sound  that  is 
too  strong  and  forcible  deafens  the  ear.  Nay,  even  the 
most  sweet  and  harmonious  sounds,  when  long  con- 
tinued, or  very  often  repeated,  become  indifferent  to 
the  ear,  if  not  tiresome.  In  like  manner  the  smell  is 
sickened  with  perpetual  fragrance,  and  the  palate  sur- 
feited by  overmuch  sweetness.  Even  the  joy  of  mere 
animal  nature,  when  it  exceeds  the  just  bounds,  be- 
comes a  disturber.  Overmuch  joy  of  this  sort  is  in- 
quietude ;  it  banishes  quiet  sleep  as  effectually  as 
pungent  grief. 

Hence  it  falls  out,  agreeably  to  the  established  con- 
stitution of  our  nature,  that  scarcely  any  persons  lead 
more  unpleasant  lives  than  those  who  pursue  after 
pleasure  with  the  most  eagerness.  And  so  it  must 
needs  be,  because  their  over-eagerness  of  desire,  by 
spurring  them  on  to  perpetual  excess,  turns  their  pleas- 
ures to  pains,  and  their  very  recreations  to  scenes  of 
wearisome  drudgery. 


THE    PICTURE    PREACHER.  335 

Those  who  make  the  pursuit  of  pleasure  the  business 
of  life,  are  among  the  most  wretched  of  mortals.  The 
most  unhappy  of  women  are  those  who,  spending  their 
lives  in  a  continuous  round  of  frivolities,  have  no  taste 
left  for  simple  domestic  comforts. 

It  is  stated  of  Mademoiselle  Lespenasse,  a  most  ac- 
complished French  lady,  who  had  been  the  unrivalled 
leader  of  fashions  in  France  during  a  part  of  the  last 
century,  ^^  that  she  lived,  and  almost  died  in  public ; 
that  while  she  was  tortured  with  disease,  and  her  heart 
so  torn  with  agonizing  passions  as  frequently  to  turn 
her  thoughts  on  suicide,  she  dined  out  and  made  visits 
every  day ;  and  that  when  she  was  visibly  within  a 
few  weeks  of  her  end,  and  was  wasted  with  coughs  and 
spasms,  she  still  had  her  saloon  filled  twice  a  day  with 
company,  and  dragged  herself  out  to  supper  with  all 
the  countesses  of  her  acquaintance.'^  Moderation  in 
the  pleasures  of  sense  is  the  only  possible  way  of  de- 
riving from  them  all  the  satisfaction  which  it  is  in  their 
nature  to  give 


GRESHAM  AND  THE   GRASSHOPPER 

Sir  Thomas  Gresham,  who  built  the  Royal  Exchange 
in  London,  was  the  son  of  a  poor  woman,  who,  while 
he  was  an  infant,  abandoned  him  in  a  field.  By  the 
providence  of  God,  however,  the  chirping  of  a  grass- 
hopper attracted  a  boy  to  the  spot  where  the  child  lay, 
and  his  life  was,  by  this  means,  preserved. 

After  Sir  Thomas  had,  by  his  unparalleled  success 
as  a  merchant,  risen  to  the  pinnacle  of  commercial 
wealth  and  greatness,  he  chose  a  grasshopper  for  his 
crest,  and  becoming,  under  Queen  Elizabeth,  the 
founder  of  the  Royal  Exchange,  his  crest  was  placed 
on  the  walls  of  the  building  in  several  parts,  and  a 
vane,  or  weather-cock,  in  the  figure  of  a  grasshopper, 
was  fixed  on  the  summit  of  the  tower. 


336 


KOYAL   EOAD   TO   HAPPINESS;   OE 


^^^^;^NGJ1N^^^^ 


THE  FISHERMAN  AND  THE  MUDDY  WATERS. 


T%e  wiched  are  like  the  troubled  sea  when  it  cannot  rest,  whose 

waters  cast  up  mire  and  dirt,     Isa.  Ivii.  20. ITe  that  by  usury 

and  unjust  gain  increaseth  his  substa?ice,  he  shall  gather  it  for  him 

that  will  pity  the  poor.    Pro  v.  xxviii.  8. Wo  unto  them  that  call 

evil  good  and  good  evil;  that  put  darkness  for  light  and  light  for 

darkness.     Prov.  v.  20. There  is  a  generation  that  are  pure  in 

their  own  eyes,  and  yet  is  not  washed  from  their  filthiness,     Prov. 
XXX.  12. 


THE   PICTUKE   PREACHER.  337 

FISHING  IN  MUDDY  WATERS. 

An  overreaching  fisherman  resolved  to  take  all  the  fish 
in  a  certain  stream  of  water  for  his  own  benefit,  though 
all  his  neighbors  had  the  same  right  as  himself  to  a 
share,  provided  they  fished  in  the  usual  lawful  manner. 
The  fisherman,  having  an  assistant,  encompassed  the 
whole  stream  from  one  side  to  the  other,  took  a  long 
pole  and  fell  to  beating  the  stream  to  make  the  fish 
strike  into  his  net. 

One  of  the  neighbors  living  near  came  up  to  the 
fisherman  and  told  him  he  was  doing  a  serious  injury 
to  all  concerned.  First  you  splash  and  dash  the  waters 
to  drive  all  the  fish  into  your  net,  so  there  are  none  left 
for  anybody  else ;  in  the  second  place  you  so  muddy 
up  the  water  that  it  is  unfit  for  our  use.  How  do  you 
suppose  that  we  can  live  contented  while  you  are  in- 
flicting such  injuries  upon  us  I"  As  he  was  going  on  in 
this  manner,  the  other  interrupted  him,  saying,  ^^  I  do 
not  trouble  myself  about  how  other  people  can  live  ; 
I  attend  to  my  own  business,  which  is  that  of  a  fisher- 
man, and  let  others'  affairs  alone  ;  my  object  is  to  catch 
as  many  as  I  can." 

Application. — This  fable  is  leveled  at  those  who,  as 
the  proverb  says,  love  to  fish  in  troubled  waters.  There 
are  some  men  of  such  selfish  principles,  that  they  do 
not  care  what  mischief  or  what  confusion  they  occasion 
in  the  world,  provided  they  may  but  gratify  some 
little  selfish  appetite.  A  thief  will  set  a  whole  street 
on  fire,  to  get  an  opportunity  of  robbing  one  house ; 
an  ill-natured  person  will  kindle  the  flame  of  discord 
among  friends  and  neighbors,  purely  to  satisfy  his  own 
malicious  temper.  And  among  the  great  ones  there 
are  those  who,  to  succeed  in  their  ambitious  designs, 
will  make  no  scruple  of  involving  their  country  in 
divisions  and  animosities  at  home,  and  sometimes  in 
war  and  bloodshed  abroad.  Provided  they  do  but 
maintain  themselves  in  power,   they   care  not  what 

15 


338 


ROYAL   ROAD    TO    HAPPINESS;    OR 


THE  FOX  AND  THE  GRAPES. 


These  pine  away^  stricken  through  for  want  of  the  fruits  of  the 

field.     Lam.  iv.  9. —  Te  lust .  .  .  and  desire  to  have^  and  cannot 

obtain  .  .  James  iv.  2. Put  away  from  thee  a  froward  mouth, 

and  perverse  lips  put  far  from  thee.     Pro  v.  iv.  24. Lie  not  one 

to  another,  seeing  ye  have  put  off  the  old  man  with  his  deeds. 

Col.  iii.  9. But  noio  ye  also  put  off  all  these  j  anger,  wrath, 

blasphemy, , .  .  o^lt  of  your  mouth,     CoL  iiL  8. 


THE    PICTURE    PREACHER.  339 

havoc  and  desolation  they  bring  upon  the  rest  of  man- 
kind. They  see  all  around  them  confoimded  with 
faction  and  party  rage,  without  the  least  remorse  or 
compassion.  The  widow's  tears,  the  orphan's  cries,  and 
the  sighs  of  despair  itself  cannot  affect  them. 


THE   FOX  AND   THE   GRAPES. 

A  fox,  very  hungry,  chanced  to  come  into  a  vineyard, 
where  there  hung  branches  of  charming  ripe  grapes, 
but  nailed  up  to  a  trellis  so  high  that  he  leaped  till  he 
quite  tired  himself,  without  being  able  to  reach  one  of 
them.  At  last,  ^*  Let  who  will  take  them,"  says  he, 
^Hhey  are  but  green  and  sour,  so  I'll  even  let  them  alone." 

Application. — This  fable  is  a  good  reprimand  to  a 
parcel  of  vain  coxcombs  in  the  worlds  who,  because 
they  would  never  be  thought  to  be  disappointed  in  any 
of  their  pursuits,  pretend  a  dislike  to  everything  which 
they  cannot  obtain.  There  is  a  strange  propensity  in 
mankind  to  this  temper,  and  there  are  numbers  of 
grumbling  malcontents  in  every  different  faculty  and 
sect  in  life.  The  discarded  statesman,  considering  the 
sickening  corruption  of  the  times,  would  not  have  any 
hand  in  the  administration  of  affairs  for  all  the  world : 
— ^not  he  !  The  country  'squire  curses  a  court  life,  and 
would  not  go  cringing  and  creeping  to  a  drawing-room 
for  the  best  place  the  king  has  at  his  disposal.  A  young 
fellow  being  asked  how  he  liked  a  celebrated  beauty, 
by  whom  all  the  world  knew  he  was  despised,  an- 
swered, *^  She  has  an  offensive  breath." 

How  insufferable  is  the  pride  of  this  poor  creature, 
man  !  who  would  stoop  to  the  basest,  vilest  actions, 
rather  than  be  thought  not  able  to  do  anything.  For 
what  is  more  base  and  vile  than  lying  ?  And  when  do 
we  lie  more  notoriously  than  when  we  disparage  and 
find  fault  with  a  thing  for  no  other  reason  than  because 
it  is  out  of  our  power  ? 


340        ROYAL  ROAD  TO  HAPPINESS;  OR 

OUR    NEIGHBORS. 

A  man,  stopping  at  a  tavern  for  rest  and  refresh- 
ments, began  to  talk  about  his  journey.  He  had  come 
from  a  neighboring  town ;  he  was  moving  away,  and 
glad  enough  to  get  away,  too.  Such  a  set  of  neigh- 
bors as  he  had  there — unkind,  disobliging,  contrary,  it 
was  enough  to  make  any  man  want  to  leave  the  place, 
and  he  had  started  and  was  to  settle  in  another  region, 
where  he  could  find  a  different  set  of  inhabitants. 
**  Well,"  said  the  landlord,  ^^  you  will  find  just  such 
neighbors  where  you  are  going." 

The  next  night  another  man  stopped  at  the  inn.  He, 
too,  was  on  a  journey — ^was  moving.  On  inquiry  it 
was  found  he  came  from  the  same  place  from  whence 
the  other  traveler  had  come.  He  said  he  had  been 
obliged  to  move  from  where  he  lived  and  he  did  not 
mind  leaving  so  much  as  he  did  leaving  his  neighbors ; 
they  were  so  kind,  considerate,  accommodating  and 
generous,  that  he  felt  very  sorrowful  at  thought  of 
leaving  them  and  going  among  strangers,  especially  as 
he  could  not  tell  what  kind  of  neighbors  he  might  find. 
"  Oh  !  well,"  said  the  landlord,  *^  you  will  find  just  such 
neighbors  where  you  are  going." 

Those  two  men  illustrate  two  different  phases  of 
character.  Our  neighbors  are  to  a  large  extent  to  us 
as  we  may  choose  to  make  them.  The  first  man  was 
doubtless  of  a  jealous,  suspicious,  fault-finding  disposi- 
tion, prone  to  take  offense  at  trifles,  and  to  suspect  evil 
where  none  was  intended — the  other,  easy  in  disposi- 
tion, kindly  and  accommodating,  and  seeing  some  good 
in  almost  everybody  with  whom  he  was  thrown  in 
company. 

Thomas  Jefferson,  in  a  letter  to  his  eldest  daughter, 
Mrs.  Randolph,  wrote,  '*  I  am  happy  to  find  you  are  on 
good  terms  with  your  neighbors.  It  is  almost  the 
most  important  circumstance  in  life,  since  nothing  is  so 
corroding  as  frequently  to  meet  persons  with  whom 


THE    PICTURE    PREACHER.  341 

one  has  any  difference.  The  ill-will  of  a  single  neigh- 
bor is  an  immense  drawback  on  the  happiness  of  hfe, 
and  therefore  their  good  will  cannot  be  bought  too  dear." 
The  importance  of  this  is  inculcated  in  the  very  first 
command  given  from  Sinai — ^^Thou  shalt  love  the 
Lord  thy  God  with  all  thy  heart,  and  thy  neighbor  as 
tliyself" 

If  one  perchance  should  be  afflicted  with  ill-dis- 
posed, annoying  neighbors,  it  will  be  foimd  the  part  of 
wisdom  to  return  good  for  evil.  At  first,  even  good 
may  not  be  received  with  other  than  churlishness  and 
suspicion,  but  it  is  not  in  human  nature  to  withstand  a 
repetition  of  kind  acts.     Nobody  is  entirely  devilish. 

We  knew  a  woman,  Mrs.  H.,  who  did  everything 
possible  to  annoy  her  nearest  neighbor,  Mrs.  W.  The 
latter  had  become  the  second  wife  of  one  who  had 
married  for  his  first  wife  her  deceased  sister,  and  the 
sole  ground  of  her  hate  was  in  this  fact.  Among  her 
devilish  acts  was  to  secretly,  under  the  cover  of  night, 
girdle  some  peach  trees  which  she  had  seen  a  twelve 
year  old  son  of  Mrs.  W.  to  plant  and  nurse  with  great 
care  and  pride  until  they  had  begun  to  bear.  Not- 
withstanding her  vindictive  acts  Mrs.  W.  made  no  at- 
tempt at  war,  but,  as  opportunity  offered,  returned  her 
kindnesses  until  Mrs.  H.  was  stricken  with  a  mortal 
sickness.  Thereupon,  Mrs.  W.  went  to  her  relief, 
nursed  and  tended  her  as  though  she  had  been  a  dear 
sister,  when  the  dying  woman  relented,  acknowledged 
what  a  fiend  she  had  been,  asked  her  forgiveness,  and 
shortly  after  died. 

Few  things  are  more  disagreeable  than  to  be  com- 

f)elled  daily  to  meet  a  person  whom  one  strongly  dis- 
ikes.  To  pass  such  on  the  street  will  infallibly  break 
up  the  pleasant  train  of  thought,  and  often  mar  the 
serenity  of  successive  hours. 

Those  who  want  sunshine  in  their  hearts  will  try  to 
be  on  good  terms  with  their  neighbors.  They  will 
seek  opportunities  to  show  them  little  courtesies,  mere 


342  ROYAL    ROAD    TO    HAPPINESS;    OR 

trifles,  but  weighty  in  influence  upon  the  hearts  of 
Others,  such  as  a  bouquet  of  flowers  from  one's  gar- 
den or  a  Httle  rare  delicacy  from  one's  table  ;  or  if  one 
owns  a  carriage,  an  occasional  ride  for  a  breath  of  pure 
air,  to  the  more  unprosperous  neighbor  who  cannot 
aff'ord  a  horse. 

The  folly  of  living  at  enmity  with  one's  neighbors  is 
shown  by  the  results  of  those  terrible  neighborhood  feuds 
that  spring  up  occasionally  in  the  far  western  states — 
where  whole  families  quarrel,  and  their  quarrels  are 
perpetuated  for  years  from  father  \o  son  and  involve 
the  relations  of  all  concerned.  These  sometimes 
descend  from  generation  to  generation  and  lead  to  num- 
berless murders  on  both  sides,  each  side  engaged  in 
the  silly  strife  of  trying  *'to  get  even,"  as  they  call  it, 
"with  the  other." 

What  is  meant  by  being  neighborly  in  a  true  sense, 
we  can  fairly  illustrate  by  an  incident  related  by 
Henry  Howe  in  his  reminiscences  of  an  old  bookstore, 
and  published  in  the  New  Haven  Courier.  **  When  I 
was  a  boy  of  about  nine  years  of  age,"  said  he,  *^  I 
was  one  September  day  standing  in  the  back  door  of 
my  father's  bookstore,  near  the  college,  in  New  Haven, 
when  my  attention  was  drawn  to  a  noble  peach  tree  of 
our  neighbor.  Dr.  Joseph  Darling,  that  hung  laden 
with  fruit,  adjoining  our  premises.  One  of  the  branches 
hung  over  our  fence,  and  as  I  looked  at  the  large,  lus- 
cious peaches,  ripening  in  the  sun,  beautifully  colored 
in  crimson  and  gold,  my  mouth  fairly  watered  for  them. 
I  at  once  inquired  of  my  father,  ^^  have  we  not  a  right  to 
take  those  peaches  from  Dr.  Darling's  tree  that  are  on 
the  branch  that  hangs  over  our  yard?"  *^Yes,  my 
son,"  replied  he,  ^'  but  then  it  would  not  be  neigh- 
borly T  That  answer  was  a  life-long  lesson  to  the 
then  boy. 

The  Golden  Eule  very  fully  covers  this  entire  case: — 
"whatsoever  ye  would  that  men  should  do  to  you,  do 
ye  even  so  to  them." 


THE   PICTURE    PREACHER.  343 

THE  BEAR,  HEN  AND  CHICKENS. 

A  bear  from  the  woods,  when  passing  a  farm-house,, 
was  somewhat  amused  to  see  the  method  by  which  the 
hen  and  her  brood  of  chickens  quenched  their  thirst  by 
the  water  furnislied  for  their  use.  Lowering  their 
heads  down  to  the  water,  they  first  filled  their  mouths 
with  it,  then  lifting  up  their  heads  as  high  as  they 
could  reach  the  water  easily  ran  down  their  throats  and 
thus  satisfied  their  thirst. 

As  the  bear  had  never  seen  anything  of  the  kind 
before  he  could  not  help  smiling  at  what  he  consid- 
ered a  foolish  and  unnecessary  act  in  drinking.  ^  Why," 
said  the  bear,  "  do  they  not  di^ink  like  other  creatures 
by  putting  down  their  heads  to  the  water,  and  drink 
up  as  much  as  they  want  at  once,  and  done  with  it,  with- 
out making  such  a  foolish  parade  of  stretching  up  their 
necks,  and  guzzling  the  water  down  their  throats  in 
such  an  ungraceful  manner."  As  the  bear  did  not 
appear  to  understand  the  cause  of  such  action  on  the 
part  of  the  hen  and  chickens,  he  wished  to  be  informed. 

A  bystander  then  observed  that  this  custom  had  been 
formed  from  time  immemorial  among  this  feathered 
race,  and  it  might  be  considered  as  an  act  of  worship, 
or  thankfulness,  which  they  owed  to  the  Great  Being 
who  made  them,  and  had  given  them  so  many  bless- 
ings to  enjoy. 

Bruin,  the  bear,  on  hearing  this,  broke  out  into  a 
contemptuous  laugh,  as  though  such  silly  acts  as  these 
fowls  had  performed  could  be  noticed  by  such  a  being 
as  they  supposed  God  was.  In  fact,  for  himself,  hav- 
ing never  seen  God,  he  did  not  believe  that  there  was 
any  such  being.  In  order  to  show  his  contempt  for  all 
such  notions  as  religious  worship  and  thanksgiving  to 
a  Being  of  which  he  knew  nothing,  he  scouted  the  idea, 
and  to  ridicule  it  he  rose  on  his  hind  feet  and  mimick- 
ing the  action  of  the  hen  and  chickens,  lifted  up  his 
head  and  paws  as  an  act  of  worship  and  praise      This 


>^ 


344 


BOYAL  KOAD   TO   HAPPINESS;   OR 


TTugodliiiess   Sc  Contempt)'^ 


THE  BEAR,  HEN  AND  CHICKENS. 


The  eyes  of  aU  wait  upon  thee  ; thou  openest  thine  hand, 

and  satisjiest  the  desire  of  every  living  thing,     Psa.  cxlv.  15,  16. 

The  natural  man  receiveth  not  the  things  of  the  Spirit  of  God, 

for  they  are  foolishness  unto  him;  neither  can  he  know  them  he- 
cause  they  are  spiritually  discerned.     L  Cor.  ii.  14. The  fool 

hath  said  in  his  hearty  there  is  no   God.     Psa.  xiv.   1. — ^Praise 

the  Lord  from  the  earth;  beasts  and  all  cattle and  flying 

fowl,     Psa.  cxlviii.  V-10. 


THE   PICTURE    PREACHER.  345 

last  act,  with  tlie  speech  he  had  made,  was  a  most 
grievous  breach  of  good  manners,  and  the  bystanders 
severely  reproved  him  for  such  conduct,  observing  that 
**  none  but  a  bear  would  be  guilty  of  such  an  offense." 

The  fable  represents  a  certain  class  of  people,  found 
in  all  ages,  who  consider  themselves  wiser  than  the 
rest  of  mankind.  They  despise,  and  oftentimes  treat 
with  contempt,  all  acts  of  a  religious  kind,  which  they 
consider  as  the  evidence  of  weakness  and  superstition. 
The  wisdom  which  these  scoffers  profess  is  described 
by  James,  ''  descendeth  not  from  above,  but  is  earthly, 
sensual,  devilish!"  ^* These  persons,"  says  Jude, 
**  speak  evil  of  those  things  which  they  know  not,  but 
what  they  know  naturally  as  brute  beasts  "  The  doc- 
trine which  they  teach  is  earthly,  saying  that  mankind 
are  nothing  but  beasts  or  animals ;  that  when  they  die, 
that  is  the  end  of  them.  If  this  be  correct  the  man 
becomes  sensual,  saying,  '^  Let  us  eat  and  drink,  for 
to-morrow  we  die ;"  saying,  in  effect,  let  us  indulge  in 
all  the  appetites  and  passions  we  wish,'  for  there  is  no 
God  to  punish  us  hereafter  for  whatever  crime  we  com- 
mit. The  last  stage  which  these  persons  arrive  at  is 
truly  called  ^'devilish." 

The  apostle  tells  us  '^  Be  not  deceived ;  evil  com- 
munications corrupt  good  manners."  The  person  who 
advocates  what  may  be  called  the  "  Beastial  Philoso- 
phy," is  an  enemy  to  the  well-being  of  the  human  race 
— ^he  strikes  at  the  foundation  of  all  true  religion  and 
virtue  among  men,  thus  becoming  a  subject  of  the  Evil 
being  who  rules  over  the  children  of  disobedience. 
The  bear  represented  in  the  fable  is  sometimes  consid- 
ered as  an  emblem  of  a  sour,  morose  and  ill-mannered 
being,  gruff  and  offensive  in  word,  caring  little  about 
the  feelings  of  others.  In  this  he  is  quite  different 
from  that  man  possessing  the  wisdom  from  above  which 
is  first  pure,  then  peaceable,  gentle,  easy  to  be  en- 
treated, full  of  mercy,  without  partiality,  and  without 
hypocrisy." 

16* 


346  EOYAL   ROAD   TO   HAPPINESS;    OR 

EVIL   THINKING. 

"He  that  would  seriously  set  upon  the  search  of 
truth,"  says  the  great  Locke,  "ought  in  the  first  place 
to  prepare  his  mind  with  a  love  of  it ;  for  he  that  loves 
it  not  will  not  take  much  pains  to  get  it  nor  be  much 
concerned  when  he  misses  it.  There  is  nobody  in  the 
commonwealth  of  learning  who  does  not  profess  him- 
self a  lover  of  truth ;  and  there  is  not  a  rational  crea- 
ture that  would  not  take  it  amiss  to  be  thought  other- 
wise of.  And  yet,  for  all  this,  one  may  truly  say, 
there  are  very  few  lovers  of  truth  for  trutli's  sake,  even 
among  those  who  persuade  themselves  that  they  are 
so.  How  a  man  may  know  whether  he  be  so  in  earn- 
est is  worth  inquiry,  and  I  think  there  is  this  one  uner- 
ring mark  of  it,  viz  :  the  not  entertaining  any  proposi- 
tion with  greater  assurance  than  the  proofs  it  is  built 
upon  will  warrant." 

These  weighty  sentiments,  so  worthy  to  be  carried 
along  with  us  in  all  our  secular,  and  in  all  our  moral 
and  religious  concerns,  are  particularly  applicable  to 
the  subject  of  evil-thinking.  Downright  willful  slan- 
der is  considered  on  all  hands  as  a  detestable  vice  ; 
and  a  person  habitually  guilty  of  it,  in  its  grossness,  is 
marked  as  a  foe  to  society.  A  man,  a  woman,  or  a 
family,  that  is  notoriously  infected  with  this  vice,  is 
watched  as  carefully  as  is  a  pickpocket,  or  a  common 
cheat.  But  it  unhappily  falls  out,  that  although  rank, 
willful  slander  commonly  meets  with  the  reprobation 
it  merits,  yet,  what  is  of  near  kin  to  it  passes  with 
very  little  censure  or  remorse.  I  mean  one's  taking  up 
a  reproach  against  one's  neighbor,  or  believing  an  ill 
report  of  another  upon  slight  grounds,  or  without  suf- 
ficient evidence. 

The  commonness  of  this  fault  seems  to  evince  a 
strong  predisposition  to  it  in  our  very  nature.  It  is  a 
remark  of  the  great  British  moralist.  Dr.  Johnson,  that 
"there  are  two  causes  of  belief;  evidence  and  inclina- 


THE   PICTURE   PEEACHEB.  347 

tion."  When  we  are  in  no  manner  inclined  to  believe 
a  thing  we  naturally  require  full  evidence  of  it  before 
we  yield  our  credence  ;  and,  on  the  other  hand,  when 
we  are  powerfully  inclined  to  believe,  we  can  do  so, 
not  only  without  evidence,  but  against  it.  Hence  it 
would  seem  that  we  naturally  have  a  strong  inclination 
to  believe  or  think  ill  of  others,  since  we  so  often  do  it 
on  no  real  proof  at  all,  or  what  is  next  to  none. 

How  happens  it  that  even  in  well-ordered  society 
scandal  flies  as  upon  the  wings  of  the  wind  ?  That  it 
so  quickly  spreads  over  a  whole  neighborhood,  parish, 
or  town  ?  That  it  continues  to  widen  its  circle  from 
day  to  day,  till  everybody  knows  it  save  one,  to  wit, 
the  very  person  scandalized  ?  Does  not  this  argue  a 
general  love  of  scandal  ?  Perhaps  you  will  say  no ; 
and  will  hold  that  two  or  three  tale-bearers  or  busy- 
bodies  may  have  done  the  whole  mischief.  But  how 
could  they  have  done  it  if  they  had  not  found  a  multi- 
tude of  ears  to  listen  to  their  tale,  and  a  multitude  of 
tongues  to  aid  them  in  its  circulation  I  As  there  would 
be  no  thieves  of  one  kind,  if  there  were  no  receivers 
of  stolen  goods,  so  there  would  be  no  tale-bearers  if 
there  were  no  greedy  listeners  to  their  buzz ;  and  as  the 
receiver  is  as  bad  as  the  thief,  so  the  greedy  listener  to 
groundless  scandal  is  well  nigh  as  bad  as  its  author,  or 
at  least  possesses  some  portion  of  the  same  depravity 
of  feeling  and  temper. 

No  one  has  traveled  very  far  upon  the  journey  of 
life,  and  been  an  observant  traveler,  who  has  not  no- 
ticed the  manner  in  which,  for  a  while,  this  *^ pestilence 
walketh  in  darkness,"  and  then  bursts  forth  into  open 
light.  The  foul  report  is  for  some  time  communicated 
in  whispers,  accompanied  with  solemn  injunctions  of 
secrecy.  Every  one  professes  to  hope  it  is  not  true, 
and  yet  every  one  whispers  it  to  every  one's  acquaint- 
ance. 

If  it  be  a  young  female  that  the  story  is  about,  one 
that  is  distinguished  by  some  personal  attractions ;  lo, 


348  ROYAL    ROAD    TO   HAPPINESS;    OR 

the  rueful  faces  of  the  rival  young  sisterhood  and  their 
good  mothers  !  Crumpling  up  their  mouths  while  they 
are  spreading  it,  and  every  now  and  then  venting  a 
deep  sigh,  they  hope,  forsooth,  the  thing  is  not  quite  so 
bad,  but  are  sorely  afraid  there  is  too  much  truth  in 
it.  At  length  it  comes  to  be  a  common  report ;  a  mat- 
ter of  public  notoriety.  It  is  in  everybody's  mouth, 
and  everybody  must  believe  it ;  because,  according  to 
one  orthodox  old  saying,  *^  What  everybody  says,  must 
be  true  ;"  and,  according  to  another  of  equally  sacred 
authority,  *^  Where  there  is  much  smoke,  there  must  be 
some  fire.'' 

It  is  a  settled  point.  In  the  public  opinion  the  case 
is  decided,  and  the  defamed  party  is  believed  guilty. 
All  are  of  one  mind,  that  there  must  be  something  in 
it;  though,  here  and  there,  one  charitable  body  or 
another  expresses  a  faint  hope  that  the  affair  may  not 
turn  out  to  be  quite  so  scandalous  as  it  is  represented. 

Last  of  all,  after  the  lapse  of  months,  or  perhaps  of 
a  year,  it  reaches  the  astounded  ears  of  the  person 
most  immediately  concerned.  It  is  sifted,  and  turns 
out  to  be  a  sheer  fabrication,  invented  and  first  put  in 
circulation  by  nobody.  Search  is  made  in  vain  for 
the  author,  who  lies  snugly  concealed  amidst  the  multi- 
tude. 

Well,  then,  the  matter  is  cleared  up,  and  all  the  slur 
is  wiped  away,  at  least  from  the  character  of  the  de- 
famed. Not  exactly  so,  nor  indeed  can  it  be.  Some 
are  no  less  loth  to  disbelieve  than  they  were  forward 
to  believe.  Some  who  pretend  to  be  mighty  glad  at 
the  result,  secretly  wish  it  had  turned  out  a  little  other- 
wise. Some  have  their  doubts  still,  but  charitably  be- 
lieve that,  in  the  main,  the  poor  girl  *^  is  more  sinned 
against  than  sinning."  And  some,  again,  have  no  in- 
clination to  examine  the  disproof  of  the  calumny, 
though  they  had  swallowed  it  with  a  voracious  appe- 
tite. ^^  If  she  have  cleared  herself  of  the  aspersion,  it 
is  well ;  we  wish  the  girl  no  harm ;  but,  for  our  part, 


THE   PICTURE   PREACHER.  349 

we  have  our  own  opinion  about  that  matter,  and  le^ve 
it  to  others  to  think  as  they  please."  At  the  same  time 
they  look  mighty  wise,  and  not  a  little  mysterious. 

A  great  deal  of  trouble  is  made  in  neighborhoods 
from  no  malicious  motives,  but  from  the  mere  excite- 
ment of  telling  the  news.  Most  village  gossip,  when 
sifted  down,  amounts  to  the  little  school-girl's  defini- 
tion. Being  asked  what  it  was  to  bear  false  witness 
against  a  neighbor,  she  replied :  "  If  s  when  nobody 
don't  do  nothing,  and  somebody  goes  and  tells  of  it." 

How  stories  of  all  sorts  originate  from  the  slightest 
foundation  is  illustrated  by  the  old-time  school  recited 
poem  known  as  "  The  Three  Black  Crows." 

THE  THREE  BLACK  CROWS. 

Two  honest  tradesmen  meeting  in  the  Strand, 

One  took  the  other  briskly  by  the  hand ; 
"  Hark  ye,"  said  he,  "  'tis  an  odd  story  this, 

About  the  crows  !" — "  I  don't  know  what  it  is," 

Replied  his  friend. — "  No  !  I'm  surprised  at  that ; 

Where  I  come  from,  it  is  the  common  chat : 

But  you  shall  hear :  an  odd  affair  indeed  I 

And  that  it  happened,  they  are  all  agreed : 

Not  to  detain  you  from  a  thing  so  strange, 

A  gentleman,  that  lives  not  far  from  'Change, 

This  week,  in  short,  as  all  the  alley  knows, 

Taking  a  pnke,  has  thrown  up  three  black  crows.'' 
"  Impossible  I" — "  Nay,  but  it's  really  true, 

I  had  it  from  good  hands,  and  so  may  you." 
"  From  whose,  I  pray  ?"     So  having  named  the  man. 

Straight  to  inquire  his  curious  comrade  ran. 
**  Sir,  did  you  tell" — relating  the  affair — 
**  Yes,  sir,  I  did  ;  and  if  it's  worth  your  care 

Ask  Mr.  Such-a-one,  he  told  it  me  ; 

But,  by  the  by,  'twas  two  black  crows,  not  three." 

Resolved  to  trace  so  wondrous  an  event, 

Whip  to  the  third,  the  virtuoso  went. 
"  Sir,"— and  so  forth — "  Why,  yes  ;  the  thing  is  fact, 

Though  in  regard  to  number  not  exact ; 

It  was  not  two  black  crows,  'twas  only  one  ; 

The  truth  of  that  you  may  depend  upon. 

The  gentleman  himself  told  me  the  case." 
"  Where  may  I  find  him  ?"    "  Why, — in  such  a  place." 


350  ROYAL   ROAD   TO   HAPPINESS;    OR 

Away  he  goes,  and  having  found  him  out, — 
**  Sir,  be  so  good  as  to  resolve  a  doubt." 

Then  to  his  last  informant  he  referred, 

And  begged  to  know  if  true  what  he  had  heard. 
"  Did  you,  sir,  throw  up  a  black  crow  ?"     "  Not  1 1'* 
"  Bless  me,  how  people  propagate  a  Ho  I 

Black  crows  have  been  thrown  up,  three,  two,  and  one. 

And  here  I  find  at  last  all  comes  to  none  I 

Did  you  say  nothing  of  a  crow  at  all  ?" 
**  Crow — crow — perhaps  I  might,  now  I  recall 

The  matter  over."     "  And  pray,  sir,  what  was't  ?" 
**  Why,  I  was  horrid  sick,  and,  at  the  last, 

I  did  throw  up,  and  told  my  neighbor  so. 

Something  that  was  as  blacky  sir,  as  a  crow." 

One  of  the  best  and  most  genial  of  the  Boston 
merchants — writes  Mrs.  Childs — when  he  heard  people 
discussing  themes  of  scandal,  was  accustomed  to  inter- 
rupt them  by  saying:  ^^  Don^t  talk  any  more  about  it 
Perhaps  they  didn't  do  it ;  and  may  be  they  couldn't 
help  it." 

For  myself  I  deem  it  the  greatest  unkindness  to  be 
told  of  anything  said  against  me.  I  may  prevent  its 
exciting  resentment  in  my  mind ;  but  the  conscious- 
ness of  not  being  liked  unavoidably  disturbs  my  rela- 
tions with  the  person  implicated.  There  is  no  better 
safeguard  against  the  injurious  habit  of  gossiping  than 
the  being  interested  in  principles  and  occupations.  If 
you  have  these  to  employ  your  mind  you  will  have  no 
inclination  to  talk  about  matters  merely  personal.  The 
measure  that  is  full  of  sound  wheat  cannot  be  filled 
with  chaff  at  the  same  moment,  and  so  the  well-filled 
mind  has  no  room  for  folly. 

When  we  reflect  that  life  is  so  full  of  neglected  little 
opportunities  to  improve  ourselves  and  others,  we  shall 
feel  that  there  is  no  need  of  aspiring  after  great  occa- 
sions to  do  good. 

"  The  trivial  round,  the  common  task, 
Would  furnish  all  we  need  to  ask ; 
Room  to  deny  ourselves — a  road 
To  bring  us  daily  nearer  God." 


THE   PICTURE   PEEACHEE. 


361 


Punishment  though  lame, 

/?i/etta^£si-h£^  trtutsgresson 


THE  OLD  LION". 


His  mischief  shall  return  upon  his  oion  heady  and  his  violent 

dealings  shall  come  downupon  his  own  pate,     Psa.  vii.  16. 

They  that  plow  iniquity^  and  sow  wickedness^  reap  the  same.    Job 

iv.  8. 1  will  punish  them  for  their  ways,  and  reward  them  their 

doings,    Hoseaiv.  0. 


352        ROYAL  ROAD  TO  HAPPINESS;  OR 

THE   OLD   LION. 

A  lion,  worn  out  with  years  and  powerless  from  dis- 
ease, was  hardly  able  to  move  himself  from  place  to 
place.  Several  of  the  beasts  who  had  formerly  suf- 
fered from  his  cruelty  and  rapacity,  now  revenged 
themselves  upon  him.  A  boar  rushed  upon  him  and 
with  a  push  of  his  tusks  into  his  bowels,  avenged  a 
long  remembered  injury.  Shortly  after,  a  bull  gored 
him  as  if  he  was  an  enemy.  When  the  ass,  whose 
colt  the  lion  had  torn  in  pieces  and  devoured  before 
her  eyes,  saw  that  the  huge  beast  could  be  assailed 
with  impunity,  kicked  into  his  breast  with  her  heels. 
Upon  this  last  assault  the  expiring  tyrant  said,  ^^I 
have  reluctantly  suffered  the  insults  of  the  brave,  but 
to  be  compelled  to  endure  the  kicks  of  an  ass  is  in- 
deed to  die  a  double  death." 

Application. — He  that  would  be  reverenced  and  re- 
spected when  old  age  comes  upon  him,  must  lay  in  a 
foundation  for  it  of  some  kind  or  other,  for  mankind 
cannot  be  persuaded  to  pay  deference  and  esteem  for 
nothing.  Although  we  may  have  moved  in  what  is 
called  the  upper  class  of  society,  yet  if  we  are  guilty 
of  any  vice  or  have  been  haughty,  oppressive  or  over- 
bearing in  our  conduct  or  manners,  we  must  not  be 
surprised  if  adverse  circumstances  overtake  us — to  find 
ourselves  slighted,  affronted,  and  even  despise^  by  the 
lowest  scum  of  the  people.  If  we  have  been  guilty  of 
violence  toward  any  one,  it  may  happen  that  our  ^do- 
lence  may  be  returned,  ^^  coming  down  upon  our  own 
pate." 

The  fable  illustrates  the  saying  which  is  often  re- 
peated— 

**  Punishment,  though  lame,  overtakes  the  transgressor  at  last." 

We  find  this  to  be  true  in  many  instances  recorded 
both  in  ancient  and  modem  history.  Nero,  the  Eoman 
Emperor,  who  flourished  about  the  commencement  of 


THE   PICTURE    PREACHER.  353 

the  Christian  era,  was  a  vindictive,  cruel  and  licentious 
tyrant.  His  mother  was  inhumanly  murdered.  Rome 
was  set' on  fire,  so  that  he  could  enjoy  the  spectacle  of 
a  great  conflagration.  At  last  a  conspiracy  was  formed 
to  rid  the  world  of  a  bloody  tyrant.  When  deserted 
by  his  flatterers  he  destroyed  himself.  In  more  mod- 
ern times,  during  the  bloody  period  of  the  French 
Revolution,  which  commenced  in  1789,  great  numbers 
of  the  people  were  beheaded  by  the  guillotine,  and  it 
is  worthy  to  be  noted  that  most  of  the  prominent  men 
who  caused  this  destruction  of  life,  perished  by  the 
same  instrimient  by  which  their  victims  had  suffered. 


CRUELTY  TO  ANIMALS. 

The  horse,  more  frequently  than  any  other  of  the 
inferior  animals,  has  been  the  subject  of  descriptive 
poetry ;  and  that,  not  so  much  by  reason  of  his  beau- 
tiful form  and  generous  nature,  as  on  account  of  the 
superb  figure  he  makes  in  the  battles  of  the  warriors. 

In  the  book  of  Job,  which  is  the  oldest  poem  in  the 
world,  and,  as  to  some  parts  of  it,  one  of  the  sublimest, 
the  war-horse  is  described  in  a  manner  superior  to  any- 
thing of  the  kind  that  can  be  found  in  other  authors. 
In  reading  this  description,  even  in  our  English  prose 
translation,  one  seems  actually  to  behold  the  horse  him- 
self, now  ^'  pawing  in  the  valley  "  with  eagerness  for  the 
battle,  and  then  **  going  forth  to  meet  the  armed  men  " 
— ^^ mocking  at  fear."  It  is  not  the  mere  picture  of  the 
Arabian  war-horse ;  we  seem  to  see  him  prance,  paw 
the  ground,  and  rush  forward  to  the  battle,  rejoicing  in 
his  strength. 

Old  Homer  has  given  several  fine  descriptions  of  the 
war-horse.  His  battles  were  fought  in  chariots,  and 
his  horses  bore  a  conspicuous  part  in  the  glory  of  the 
frays.  The  following  four  lines  in  Pope's  translation  of 
Homer,  are  horribly  picturesque  : 


354  KOYAL    ROAD    TO    HAPPINESS;    OR 

"  The  horses'  hoofs  are  bath'd  in  human  gore, 
And,  dashing,  purple  all  the  car  before; 
The  groaning  axle  sable  drops  distills, 
And  mangled  carnage  clogs  the  rapid  wheels." 

The  three  last  lines  in  the  following  stanza,  being 
part  of  Maurice's  ode  to  Mithra,  give  as  magnificent  a 
description  of  the  war-horse  as  perhaps  can  be  found 
anywhere,  except  in  the  book  of  Job : 

"  Instant  a  thousand  trumpets  sound, 
A  thousand  chiefs  in  arms  appear, 
And  high  their  glittering  banners  bear; 
The  harness'd  steed  responsive  neighs, 
And  while  his  footsteps  spurn  the  ground. 
His  eye-balls  burn,  his  nostrils  blaze." 

In  the  last  line  of  all,  the  poet  probably  had  his  eye 
upon  this  passage  in  Job — ^'  The  glory  of  his  nostrils 
is  terrible." 

My  intention  in  making  these  splendid  quotations  is 
not  so  much,  however,  to  eulogize  the  horse,  as  to  vin- 
dicate him  from  the  unfeeling  cruelty  of  man. 

The  horse,  in  his  wild  state,  while  traversing  the  for- 
ests of  Asia,  is  represented  by  travelers  as  being  the 
happiest  of  animals ;  living  perpetually  in  the  society 
of  his  kind,  and  in  the  enjoyment  of  freedom  and 
plenty.  Freedom  is  not,  however,  one  of  the  rights  of 
his  nature.  He  is  destined  to  come  under  the  dominion 
of  man,  and  to  minister  to  the  service  and  to  the  pomp 
and  pageantry  of  this  lord  of  the  lower  creation.  Man 
has  a  charter  right  to  this  animal  from  the  registry  of 
heaven.  He  has  a  right  to  use  him  as  not  abusing  him ; 
to  be  his  lord  and  master,  but  not  his  unfeeling  tyrant. 
And  it  might  have  been  expected  that  the  superior  ex- 
cellence of  this  creature,  his  wonderful  usefulness,  both 
in  war  and  peace,  the  beauty  of  his  form  and  the  noble- 
ness of  his  nature,  would  have  protected  him  from 
wanton  ciTielty ;  and  yet  there  is  no  animal  else  that 
men  are  in  the  habit  of  treating  so  cruelly. 

The  noxious  animals   have  their  lives  taken  from 


THE    PICTURE    PREACHER.  355 

them  at  once.  Few  possess  the  ferociousness  of  dis- 
position that  would  delight  to  put  to  death  a  fox,  or 
even  a  wolf,  by  lingering  tortures.  But  the  horse  ex- 
periences this  horrible  treatment  from  the  hands  of 
man,  in  a  thousand  instances. 

What  would  a  disciple  of  Pythagoras  say  in  wit- 
nessing the  innumerable  cases  of  unfeeling  barbarity 
used  toward  a  creature  so  estimable  for  his  usefulness, 
his  faithfulness,  and  his  courage  ?  Assuredly  he  would 
say,  **  These  Christians  will  have  their  reward.  In  the 
next  stage  of  their  existence  they  will  be  compelled  to 
do  pennance  in  the  bodily  form  of  the  animal  they 
have  so  wantonly  abused."  But,  fiction  apart,  we  are 
fully  assured,  upon  divine  authority,  that  without  mer- 
cifulness of  disposition  and  conduct  we  are  not  entitled 
to  the  expectation  of  finding  mercy  ;  and  that  "a  mer- 
ciful man,  is  merciful  to  his  beast." 

Mark  this !  There  is  no  worse  sign  in  children,  nor 
anything  more  necessary  to  be  nipped  in  the  bud,  than 
a  strong  propensity  to  exercise  cruelty  upon  the  brute 
creatures  within  their  power.  It  was  the  sport  of 
Nero's  boyhood  to  impale  flies  upon  the  point  of  a 
needle ;  oi  his  manhood  it  was  the  sport  to  inflict  every 
kind  of  torture  upon  his  fellow  beings.  In  his  case, 
the  boy  was  father  to  the  man. 

Kindness  to  animals  is  next  to  kindness  to  human 
beings.  Our  domestic  animals  learn  to  know,  and  often 
show  an  aftection  that  is  beautiful  to  behold  for  those 
who  feed  and  serve  them.  The  step  of  the  kind  master 
is  as  music  to  his  faithful  horse,  while  the  dog  barks 
with  delight  upon  his  approach,  and  will  remain  de- 
voted to  him  though  all  the  world  forsake — whether  he 
be  a  king  or  a  beggar,  it  will  make  no  difference. 
Even  the  house  cat  oft  welcomes  him  with  an  arched 
back,  an  upright  tail,  and  an  affectionate  rubbing 
against  his  person  for  a  little  personal  notice,  after 
which  she  will  gi'acefully  curl  up  in  a  comer  and  hap- 
pily purr. 


356 


KOYAL    ROAD    TO    HAPPINESS;    OR 


TflE  COUNTRY  MAID  AND  HER  MILK  PAIL. 


See  that  ye  walh  circumspectly,  not  as  fools,  hut  as  wise.    Ephes. 

V.    15. Vain  in  their  imaginations,  and  their  foolish  heart 

was  darkened,     Rom.  i.  21. Let  your  conversation  he  without 

covetousness  and  he  content  with  such  things  as  ye  have,     Heb. 

xiii.  5. Go  to  now,  ye  that  say,  to-day  or  to-morrow  we  will  get 

....  gain  ,  ,  .  ,  ye  know  not  what  shall  he  on  the  morrow  ,  ,  .  ,  ye 
rejoice  in  your  hoastings;  all  such  rejoicing  is  evil.  James  iv.  13, 
14,  16. 


THE    PICTURE    PREACHER.  S57 

THE  COUNTRY  MAID  AND  HER  MILK-PAIL. 

Dr.  Webster,  in  his  original  spelling-book,  prefixes 
this  fable  thus  :  ^^  When  men  suffer  their  imagination 
to  amuse  them  with  the  prospect  of  distant  and  uncer- 
tain improvements  of  their  condition,  they  frequently 
sustain  real  losses  by  inattention  to  those  affairs  in 
which  they  are  immediately  concerned." 

The  fable  is  as  follows :  A  country  maid  was  walk- 
ing very  deliberately  with  a  pail  of  milk  upon  her 
head,  when  she  fell  into  the  following  train  of  reflec- 
tion :  "  The  money  for  which  I  shall  sell  this  milk  will 
enable  me  to  increase  my  stock  of  eggs  to  three  hun- 
dred. These,  allowing  for  what  may  prove  addle,  and 
what  may  be  destroyed  by  vermin,  will  produce  two 
hundred  and  fifty  chickens.  The  chickens  will  be  fit 
to  carry  to  market  about  Christmas,  when  poultry 
always  bears  a  good  price ;  so  that  by  May-day  I  can- 
not fail  of  having  money  enough  to  purchase  a  new 
gown — ^let  me  consider,  what  color  will  I  have  it? — green 
it  shall  be  ;  it  becomes  my  complexion  best.  In  this 
dress  I  will  go  to  the  fair,  where  all  the  young  fellows 
will  strive  to  have  me  for  a  partner,  but  perhaps  I  shall 
refuse  every  one  of  them,  and  with  an  air  of  disdain 
toss  from  them."  Transported  with  this  triumphant 
thought,  she  could  not  forbear  acting  with  her  head 
what  thus  passed  in  her  imagination,  when  down  came 
the  pail  of  milk,  and  with  it  all  her  fancied  happiness. 

In  our  imaginations  about  our  future  conduct,  pro- 
vided we  had  the  money  or  the  means  to  do  what  we 
wished,  we  should  many  of  us  be  very  apt  to  indulge 
our  vanity  in  fine  dress,  splendid  equipage,  etc.  We 
should  also,  perhaps,  gratify  our  unholy  feelings  of 
revenge  in  slighting  others  who  have  slighted  or  injured 
us.  We  would  return  evil  for  evil,  and  we  would  re- 
joice in  the  prospect  of  doing  what  God  forbids.  In 
the  midst  of  these  unholy  and  wicked  passions,  a  mer- 
ciful Pro\ddence  withholds  the  means  of  our  accom- 


V)58  ROYAL   ROAD    TO    HAPPINESS;    OR 

pHshmg  what  we  desire,  by  sudden  affliction  or  some 
sudden  accident  like  that  which  befel  the  milkmaid 
while  indulging  her  vain  imaginations. 

The  habit  of  giving  the  reins  to  imagination  when 
acting  upon  the  practical  affairs  of  life  is  one  that 
eventually  leads  to  disaster.  When  the  head  becomes 
flighty,  over  goes  the  pail,  and  the  dry  eaith  swallows 
the  tears  that  mingle  with  the  milk. 

Business  is  founded  upon  the  supply  of  human 
wants.  Our  labors  must  therefore  rise  upon  the  solid 
basis  of  facts,  of  knowledge  derived  from  experience. 
Those  who  best  succeed  hug  closely  their  facts,  and 
exercise  sound  judgment  in  giving  each  fact  its  proper 
place  and  weight  in  their  course  of  action.  Every 
subject  has  one  great  controlling  truth  to  which  all  the 
others  are  subsidiary,  and  the  wise  man  discovers  and 
builds  from  it 

Imagination  is  a  blissful  quality  when  under  proper 
control.  But  for  its  exercise  life  would  be  largely 
shorn  of  its  charms.  It  may  be  called  the  companion 
of  hope.  The  mother  in  guiding  her  child  through  the 
perils  of  childhood,  is  sustained  amid  her  labors  by  her 
imaginings  of  its  future.  Every  business  plan  and 
enterprise  is  helped  along  by  the  exercise  of  imagina- 
tion in  regard  to  a  happy  result. 


THE    OLD   MAN,    HIS    SON,  AND    THE    ASS. 

An  old  man  and  his  son,  in  going  to  the  market,  led 
an  ass  with  them  which  they  intended  to  offer  for  sale. 
Wishing  him  to  appear  well,  they  put  no  burden  upon 
him,  and  let  him  walk  at  his  ease.  *^  What  foolish  peo- 
ple not  to  ride,"  said  a  traveler  when  he  saw  the  beast 
whose  business  it  was  to  carry  burdens  walking  by 
their  side.  The  old  man,  wishing  to  give  satisfaction, 
told  his  son  to  get  on  to  the  ass.     Having  rode  a  little 


THE    PICTURE   PREACHER. 


359 


No  pleasing  every  body. 


THE  OLD  MAN,  HIS  SON,  AND  THE  ASS. 
[No  Pleasing  Everybody.] 


Take  heed  what  ye  hear,     Mark  iv.  24. In  the  multitude  of 

toords  there  wanteth  not  8i?i.     Pro  v.  x.  19. Forsake  the  foolish^ 

,  ,  ,  ,  go  in  the  way  of  understanding.    Pro  v.  ix.  6. ^or  foolish 

talking  nor  jesting.  .  .  .  Zet  no  man  deceive  you  with  vain  words. 

Eph.  V.  4,  6. See  then  that  ye  walk  circumspectly,  not  as  fools, 

hut  as  wise.  Eph.  v.  5.  Not  with  eye-service,  as  7nen pleasers  .  .  . 
and ichatsoever  ye  do,  do  it  heartily,  as  to  the  Lord,  and  not  unto 
men.     Col.  iii.  22,  23. 


360  BOYAL    ROAD    TO    HAPPINESS;    OR 

distance,  a  second  traveler  cried  out  to  the  boy,  "  I 
say,  boy  I  it  does  not  look  right  to  see  you  riding*  at 
your  ease,  while  your  poor  aged  father  is  trudging 
along  on  foot."  Upon  hearing  this,  the  old  man  took 
down  his  son,  and  mounted  the  ass  himself.  ^*  Look  !" 
said  a  third  person  on  the  road,  **how  the  lazy,  selfish 
old  creature  indulges  himself,  while  his  poor  boy  is 
almost  crippled  with  walking."  The  father  took  up 
the  lad  behind.  *^  Honest  fiiend,"  asked  a  fourth,  ^^  is 
that  ass  your  own?"  *^Yes,"  replied  the  old  man. 
"  One  would  have  scarcely  thought  so,"  observed  the 
other,  ^^  from  the  way  you  have  tasked  his  strength. 
You  and  your  son  are  better  able  to  carry  the  poor 
beast  than  he  to  carry  you."  The  old  man  wishing  to 
please  everybody,  dismounted  with  his  son,  tied  the 
legs  of  the  ass  together,  and  slinging  him  on  to  a  pole, 
tried  to  carry  him  upon  their  shoulders  over  the  bridge 
leading  into  the  market  town.  This  sight  was  so  amus- 
ing to  the  people  that  they  ran  in  crowds  to  laugh  at 
it.  The  ass,  alarmed  at  the  uproar  that  ensued,  made 
a  desperate  struggle  to  free  himself  from  the  cords  by 
wliich  he  was  confined,  and  plunging  forward,  went 
over  the  side  of  the  bridge  and  was  drowned.  The  old 
man  was  mortified  with  shame  and  vexation,  that .  in 
trying  to  please  everybody,  he  had  pleased  nobody, 
and  lost  his  ass  into  the  bargain. 

Application. — The  object  of  this  fable  is  to  show 
the  almost  impossibility  and  even  the  absurdity  of  our 
thinking  that  we  shall  be  able  to  please  everybody  by 
our  conduct,  whatever  it  may  be.  There  is  such  a 
variety  of  tastes,  dispositions,  modes  of  life,  education, 
etc.,  of  the  persons  with  which  we  come  in  contact, 
that  it  cannot  be  reasonably  supposed  they  will  approve 
of  all  oiu*  words  or  actions.  Even  if  we  are  entirely 
conscientious  in  all  things,  we  may  be  charged  with  cor- 
rupt motives,  and  with  crimes  of  which  we  are  not 
guilty ;  and  we  may  suffer  much  in  our  minds  on  this 
account.     In  order  to  attain  true  peace  of  mind,  we 


e  eats  not  himself, 
nor  u/ ILL  he  Let  cthe^rs 


THE  DOG  IN  THE  MANGER. 


TTiou  shalt  love  thy  neighbor  as  thyself.     Lev.  xix.   18. 

Thou  shalt  love  the  Lord  thy  God  with  all  thy  heart  ,  .  .  this 
is  the  first  .  .  .  the  second  is  like  unto  it;  thou  shalt  love  thy 
neighbor  as  thyself.  Matt.  xxii.  37,  38,  39. All  things  what- 
soever ye  would  that  men  should  do  unto  you  do  ye  so  to  thein. 

Matt.  vii.  12. Se  that  hateth  his  brother  is  a  murderer.     I. 

John  iii.  15. But  whoso  .  .  .  seeth  his  brother  have  need  and 

shutteth  up  his  bowels  of  compassion  from  him,  how  dwelleth  ths 

love  of  God  in  him  ?    I.  John  iii.  17. With  the  froward^  thou 

teili  show  thyself  froward.     Psa.  xviiL  26. 

16 


362  ROYAL    ROAD    TO    HAPPINESS;    OR 

should  car^  less  about  what  poor,  weak  creatures  like 
ourselves  say  to  or  about  us,  but  aim  principally  to 
please  God,  rather  than  man.  In  so  doing  it  will  be 
well  with  us  now  and  hereafter. 


THE  DOG  IN  THE   MANGER. 

A  dog  lay  in  a  manger  and  by  his  growling  and 
snapping  prevented  the  oxen  from  eating  the  hay 
which  had  been  placed  there  for  them.  **  What  a  sel- 
fish dog  !"  said  one  of  them  to  his  companions ;  ^^  he 
cannot  eat  the  hay  himself,  and  yet  refuses  to  allow 
those  to  eat  who  can." 

Application. — The  evident  design  of  this  fable  is  to 
show  forth  the  hatefulness  of  that  selfishness  so  preva- 
lent among  all  classes  of  mankind.  This  passion  is 
defined  to  be  the  exclusive  regard  of  a  person  to  his 
own  interest  or  happiness  ;  or  that  supreme  self-love,  or 
self-preference,  which  leads  a  person  in  his  actions  to 
direct  his  purposes  to  the  advancement  of  his  own  in- 
terest, power  or  happiness,  without  regarding  the  in- 
terest of  others ;  it  is  the  opposite  of  benevolence, 
which  is  defined  to  be  '^  the  disposition  to  do  good ; 
the  love  of  others,  accompanied  with  a  desire  and  efi*ort 
to  promote  their  well-being  and  happiness.  A  cele- 
brated religious  writer  defines  all  sin  to  consist  of  self- 
ishness, and  all  holiness,  its  opposite,  to  consist  in 
benevolence  or  love. 

The  dog  in  the  fable  does  not  appear  to  possess  any- 
thing of  the  right  spirit;  he  does  not  feel  willing  to 
put  himself  to  the  slightest  inconvenience  to  benefit,  or 
it  may  be,  to  appease  the  sufi'ering  of  his  hungry 
neighbor.  Such  conduct  among  mankind  is  certainly 
a  violation  of  the  law  of  that  Being  who  has  given  the 
command  **Thou  shalt  love  thy  neighbor  as  thyself." 
Love  worketh  no  ill  to  his  neighbor ;  wherefore,  love 
is  the  fulfilling  of  the  law. 


THE    PICTURE    PREACHER.  363 

EXTREMES  OF  SUSPICION  AND  CONFIDENCE. 

Mankind  are  alike  betrayed  by  the  excess  of  suspi- 
cion and  of  confidence.  The  maxim,  that  in  suspicion 
is  safety,  is  true  only  in  a  qualified  sense ;  for  over- 
much suspicion  errs  as  often  as  overmuch  confidence. 
As  to  believe  nothing  would  be  quite  as  wrong  as  to 
believe  everything ;  so,  to  trust  nobody  is  no  less  an 
error  than  to  ti'ust  everybody.  Indeed,  it  is  the  worse 
error  of  tho  two,  because  there  is  more  evil  in  cause- 
lessly thinking  ill,  than  in  causelessly  thinking  well  of 
our  fellow  beings. 

Bad  men,  who  look  chiefly  into  themselves  for  in- 
formation concerning  the  human  kind,  are  ready  to 
believe  the  worst  of  others.  Conscious  of  their  own 
insincerity,  they  can  hardly  think  that  any  speak 
friendly  to  them  or  act  kindly  toward  them,  with  in- 
tentions that  are  really  sincere.  They  suspect  religion 
to  be  hypocrisy,  and  that  apparent  virtue  is  but  a  mask 
to  conceal  the  naughtiness  of  the  heart.  Piety,  self- 
government,  munificence,  and  all  the  charities  of  life, 
they  impute  to  corrupt  or  interested  motives.  Hence 
they  repose  firm  confidence  scarcely  in  any  one. 
Now,  as  to  persons  of  this  cast,  they  are  not  only  the 
dupes  of  their  own  jealousy,  but  the  victims.  A  sus- 
picion of  everybody  they  have  to  do  with,  as  it  keeps 
them  in  perpetual  fear  and  disquietude,  and  prevents 
their  enjoying  the  common  comforts  and  benefits  of 
society,  so  it  precludes  all  likelihood,  and  almost  all 
possibility,  of  self-amendment.  For  their  minds  are 
too  intent  upon  others'  faults  to  attend  to  their  own; 
and  besides,  their  mistrusting  ill  of  all  about  them,  fur- 
nishes a  powerful  opiate  to  their  own  consciences. 

It  has  been  boasted  by  some  men  of  business,  that 
they  never  in  all  their  lifetime  suff'ered  by  imposition 
or  imposture ;  that  they  had  always  accustomed  them- 
selves to  keep  so  sharp  an  eye  upon  mankind  that  no- 
body could  cheat  or  deceive  them.     This  is  not,  how- 


364        ROYAL  ROAD  TO  HAPPINESS;  OR 

ever,  any  great  matter  of  boasting ;  for  it  is  scarcely 
possible  they  should  have  been  so  constantly  upon  tlieir 
guard  against  deception,  if  they  had  not  had  a  vigilant 
monitor  and  prompter  in  their  own  hearts.  Upon  the 
same  ground,  it  is  an  ill  mark  in  any  one  to  decry  ap- 
parent virtue  in  others,  and  assign  bad  motives  to  their 
good  deeds  ;  since  it  argues  that  the  only  motives  that 
can  fall  within  the  ken  of  his  own  mental  eye  are  gen- 
erally faulty,  if  not  totally  corrupt.  In  short,  it  is  bet- 
ter now  and  then  to  be  deceived,  and  even  duped,  than 
never  to  confide. 

On  the  contrary,  persons  of  honest,  benevolent  views 
are  apt,  from  that  very  circumstance,  to  run  into  the 
opposite  extreme.  Conscious  of  their  own  uprightness 
and  probity,  they  are  hard  to  suspect  that  any  who 
wear  the  semblance  of  these  virtues  should  have  it  in 
their  hearts  to  beguile  them ;  and,  of  course,  for  w^ant 
of  prudent  caution,  are  peculiarly  liable,  through  an 
amiable  weakness,  to  be  ensnared,  and  sometimes  des- 
perately injuredc  It  is  especially  in  youth  that  we 
find  this  error ;  which  is  commonly  cured  by  time  and 
experience.  An  unsuspecting  youth,  soured  by  bitter 
experience,  may  become  too  suspicious  in  old  age ; 
while  a  youth  of  an  excessive  jealousy  of  temper  com- 
monly grows  more  jealous  or  suspicious  as  he  advances 
in  years,  and  in  his  own  mean  nature  carries  about  him 
a  moral  stench  wherever  he  goes,  that  alienates  and 
disgusts  worthy  people  so  unfortunate  as  to  be  thrown 
into  association  with  him. 


•THE   CONSCIENTIOUS   THIEF. 

Many  instances  are  recorded  of  persons  whose  lives 
have  been  blameless  and  whose  characters  were  un- 
spotted, who  at  last,  under  peculiar  circumstances  of 
temptation,  have  destroyed  their  life's  reputation  by  a 
single  criminal  act,  which  covered  them  with  dishonor, 


THE  CONSCIENTIOUS  THIEF. 


Lead  us  not  into  temptation.     Matt.  vi.  13. Wherefore  let 

him  that  thinketh  he  atondeth  take  heed  lest  he  fall,     I.  Cor.  x.  12. 
Therefore  let  us  not  sleep  as  do  others,  hut  let  us  watch  and  be  sober. 

I.  Thess.  V.  6. Let  no  man  say  when  he  is  tempted,  I  am 

tempted  of  God,  for   God  cannot  be  tempted  with  evil,  neither 

tempteth  he  any  man,    James  i.  13. liesist  the  devil  and  he 

will  flee  from  you,     James  iv.  7. Thou  shall  not  covet.     Exod. 

XX.  17. Ye  shalt  not  steal.    Lev.  xix.  11. Keep  back  thy 

sirvant  from,  presumptuous  sins.     Pea.  xix.  13. Abstain  from 

all  appearance  of  evil,     I.  Thess.  v.  22. Brethren,  if  a  man  be 

overtaken  in  a  fault,  ye  which  are  spiritual  restore  such  a  one  in 
the  spirit  of  meekness.    Gal.  vi.  1. 


366        KOYAL  HOAD  TO  HAPPINESS;  OR 

and  bent  the  heads  of  their  dearest  friends  and  kin- 
dred with  shame. 

Mr.  W.,  the  conscientious  thief,  as  we  here  call  him, 
was,  in  some  respects,  an  illustration  of  this  kind — a 
man  well  known  to  the  compiler  of  this  work,  and  who 
resided  in  the  same  community  for  many  years  in  the 
early  part  of  this  century.  He  was  noted  for  his  relig- 
ious character  and  general  honesty,  and  uprightness  of 
deportment. 

At  this  period  the  drinking  of  ardent  spirits  was  well 
nigh  universal.  When  friends  met  each  other  at  their 
homes,  generally  about  the  first  question  asked  was, 
**What  will  you  take  to  drink?" — that  is,  what  kind 
would  they  prefer,  each  householder  generally  having 
on  hand  various  kinds,  as  French  brandy,  old  spirits, 
Santa  Cruz  rum,  gin,  etc.  Not  only  the  women  and 
children  then  drank,  but  even  the  smallest  children  were 
treated  with  the  sugar  that  remained  in  the  bottom  of 
the  glasses,  and  further,  in  some  cases,  the  liquor  itself 
was  given  to  the  infants  not  weaned  and  in  their  moth- 
ers' arms.  It  was  considered  '*  as  good  for  them." 
Thus  was  the  taste  early  formed  for  ardent  spirits. 

Mr.  W.,  like  others,  formed  the  habit  of  drinking.  It 
seemed  to  have  the  effect  of  disordering  his  intellect, 
tmtil  at  last  he  began  to  steal  the  pocket-books  of  his 
brothers  in  the  church.  We  do  not  know  that  he  was 
ever  caught  in  the  act,  for  he  was  very  sly  in  making 
the  thefts.  The  pocket-books  so  procured  he  would, 
without  taking  any  of  the  money  from  them,  secrete 
in  some  covert  place ;  sometimes  burying  them  under 
a  huge  stone,  in  the  depths  of  the  forest,  and  such  like 
out-of-the-way  spots. 

After  a  while,  when  the  fumes  of  the  liquor  had 
passed  away,  and  his  mind  restored  to  its  usual  bal- 
ance, he  would  voluntarily  go  to  a  party  whom  he  had 
fobbed,  confess  his  crime,  and  ask  them  to  go  with  him 
to  the  spot  where  he  had  secreted  their  property,  and 
restore  it  to  them.     Their  money  was  always  returned 


THE    PICTURE   PREACHER.  367 

untouched,  and  he  invariably  offered  in  addition  to  pay 
the  injured  person  for  the  trouble  and  anxiety  he  had 
occasioned.  Notwithstanding  this  propensity  of  his,  he 
still  retained  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  his  brethren 
in  the  church,  who  covered  his  fault  with  the  mantle  of 
charity,  justly  regarding  it  as  a  freak  of  insanity,  for 
which  he  was  not  morally  accountable.  Eventually, 
he  overcame  his  thieving  propensity,  and  having  the 
gift  of  preaching  acceptably,  became  a  minister  of  the 
gospel. 

We  have  no  question  that  in  many  cases  persons  of 
upright  character  have  been  tempted  to  heinous  crimes 
through  some  temporary  mental  hallucination,  brought 
about  by  an  unusual   combination  of  circumstances. 

The  annexed  anecdote  illustrates  how  pecuniary 
trouble  may  sometimes  tempt  even  an  upright  man  to 
commit  murder. 

A  short  time  previous  to  the  French  Revolution,  a 
peruquier  attending  a  banker  in  Paris,  had  dressed  his 
hair  and  was  proceeding  to  shave  him,  when  he  sud- 
denly quitted  the  room  in  great  haste,  and  apparent 
embarrassment.  After  waiting  some  time,  the  gentle- 
man sent  to  the  house  of  the  hair-dresser,  to  inquire 
why  he  had  left  him  without  finishing  his  dressing. 

The  poor  fellow  was,  with  much  difficulty,  induced 
to  go  back,  when  at  last  he  consented,  and.  was  interro- 
gated as  to  the  cause  of  his  quitting  the  room  so  sud- 
denly :  '^  Why,  sir,"  said  the  poor  fellow,  much  agita- 
ted, "  the  sight  of  those  rouleas  of  louis  d'ors  on  your 
table,  and  the  recollection  of  my  starving  family  so 
affected  me  that  I  was  strongly  tempted  to  murder 
you ;  but  I  thank  God  that  I  had  resolution  to  quit 
the  room  instantly,  or  I  fear  I  should  have  committed 
the  horrid  crime." 

The  banker,  sensible  of  the  danger  he  had  escaped, 
inquired  into  the  circumstances  of  the  peruquier's  fam- 
ily and  finding  them  embarrassed,  settled  an  annuity 
on  him  of  one  thousand  li^Tes. 


368         KOYAL  ROAD  TO  HAPPINESS;  OR 

RELIGION. 

The  following,  copied  from  a  small  work  entitled 
^^  The  Economy  of  Human  Life,"  is  claimed  to  be 
translated  from  an  Indian  manuscript  found  in  the 
grand  temple  of  the  Grand  Lama  or  High  Priest  of  the 
Hindoo  religion  in  the  Chinese  Empire.  An  English 
gentleman,  who  resided  in  Pekin,  about  the  year  1750, 
caused  a  translation  to  be  made,  and  a  great  number 
have  been  circulated  in  Great  Britain  and  in  this  coun- 
try. The  name  of  the  author  or  time  when  it  was 
written  is  not  given  in  any  edition  we  have  seen.  The 
work  is  divided  into  chapters  on  various  subjects  on 
religion  and  moraHty : 

There  is  but  one  God,  the  Author,  the  Creator,  the 
Governor  of  the  world ;  Almighty,  Eternal,  Incompre- 
hensible. 

The  sun  is  not  God,  though  his  noblest  image.  He 
enliveneth  the  world  with  his  brightness,  and  his 
warmth  giveth  life  to  the  products  of  the  earth ;  admire 
him  as  the  creature,  the  instrument  of  God ;  but  wor- 
ship him  not. 

To  the  One  who  is  supreme,  most  wise  and  benefi- 
cent, and  to  him  alone,  belong  worship,  adoration, 
thanksgiving  and  praise. 

Who  has  stretched  forth  the  heavens  with  his  hand, 
who  has  described  with  his  finger  the  course  of  the 
stars. 

Who  setteth  bounds  to  the  ocean,  that  it  cannot 
pass  ;  and  saith  to  the  stormy  winds,   ^^  Be  still." 

Who  shaketh  the  earth,  and  the  nations  tremble; 
who  darteth  his  lightnings,  and  the  wicked  are  dis- 
mayed. 

Who  calleth  forth  worlds  by  the  word  of  his  mouth ; 
who  smiteth  with  his  arm,  and  they  sink  into  noth 
ing. 

^*  0  !  reverence  the  majesty  of  the  Omnipotent,  and 
tempt  not  his  anger,  lest  thou  be  destroyed." 


THE   PICTURE   PEEACHEK.  369 

The  providence  of  God  is  over  all  his  works;  he 
ruleth  and  directeth  with  infinite  wisdom. 

He  hath  instituted  laws  for  the  government  of  the 
world ;  he  hath  wonderfully  varied  them  in  all  beings ; 
and  each,  by  his  nature,  conformeth  to  his  will. 

In  the  depths  of  his  mind  he  revolveth  all  knowl- 
edge :  the  secrets  of  futurity  lie  open  before  him. 

The  thoughts  of  thy  heart  are  naked  to  his  view ; 
he  knoweth  thy  determinations  before  they  are  made. 

With  respect  to  his  prescience,  there  is  nothing  con- 
tingent ;  with  respect  to  his  providence,  there  is  noth- 
ing accidental. 

Wonderful  he  is  in  all  his  ways ;  his  counsels  are 
inscrutable ;  the  manner  of  his  '  knowledge  transcend- 
eth  thy  conception. 

"  Pay,  therefore,  to  his  wisdom,  all  honor  and  ven 
eration ;  and  bow  down  thyself  in  humble  and  submis 
sive  obedience  to  his  supreme  direction." 

TJie  Lord  is  gracious  and  beneficent ;  he  hath  crea 
ted  the  world  in  mercy  and  love. 

His  goodness  is  conspicuous  in  all  his  works  ;  he  is 
the  fountain  of  excellence,  the  center  of  perfection. 

The  creatures  of  his  hand  declare  his  goodness ;  all 
their  enjoyments  speak  his  praise ;  he  clothe th  them  with 
beauty  ;  he  supporteth  them  with  food ;  he  preserveth 
them  with  pleasure  from  generation  to  generation. 

If  we  lift  up  our  eyes  to  Heaven,  his  glory  shineth 
forth ;  if  we  cast  them  down  on  the  earth,  it  is  full  of 
his  goodness  ;  the  hills  and  the  valleys  rejoice  and  sing; 
fields,  rivers  and  woods,  resound  his  praise. 

But  thee,  O  man  I  he  hath  distinguished  with  pecul- 
iar favor ;  and  exalted  thy  station  above  all  creatures. 

He  hath  endued  thee  with  reason  to  maintain  thy 
dominion ;  he  hath  fitted  thee  with  language,  to  im- 
prove by  society;  and  exalted  thy  mind  with  the 
powers  of  meditation,  to  contemplate  and  adore  his  in- 
imitable perfections. 

And  in  the  laws  he  hath  ordained  as  the  rule  of  thy 
16* 


370  ROYAL   ROAD   TO   HAPPINESS;    OR 

life,  SO  kindly  hath  he  suited  thy  duty  to  thy  nature, 
that  obedience  to  his  precepts  is  happiness  to  thyself 

**  0,  praise  his  goodness  with  songs  of  thanksgiving, 
and  meditate  in  silence  on  the  wonders  of  his  love  :— 
let  thy  heart  overflow  with  gratitude  and  acknowledg- 
ment, let  the  language  of  thy  lips  speak  praise  and 
adoration,  let  the  actions  of  thy  life  show  thy  love  to 
his  laws." 

The  Lord  is  just  and  righteous,  and  will  judge  the 
earth  with  equity  and  truth. 

Hath  he  estabUshed  his  laws  in  goodness  and 
mercy,  and  shall  he  not  punish  the  trangressors  there- 
of! 

0,  think  not,  bold  man  !  because  thy  punishment  is 
delayed,  that  the  Lord  is  weakened  ;  neither  flatter  thy- 
self with  hopes,  that  he  winketh  at  thy  doings. 

His  eye  pierceth  the  secrets  of  every  heart,  and  he 
remembereth  them  forever ;  he  respecteth  not  the  per- 
sons nor  the  stations  of  men 

The  high  and  the  low,  the  rich  and  the  poor,  the 
wise  and  the  ignorant,  when  the  soul  hath  shaken  off 
the  cumbrous  shackles  of  this  moi-tal  life,  shall  equally 
receive  from  the  sentence  of  God,  a  just  and  everlast- 
ing retribution,  according  to  their  works. 

Then  shall  the  wicked  tremble  and  be  afraid ;  but 
the  heart  of  the  righteous  shall  rejoice  in  his  judg- 
ments. 

^^  0 !  fear  the  Lord,  therefore,  all  the  days  of  thy 
life,  and  walk  in  the  paths  which  he  hath  opened  be- 
fore thee.  Let  prudence  admonish  thee  ;  let  temper- 
ance restrain,  let  justice  guide  thy  hand,  benevolence 
warm  thy  heart,  and  gratitude  to  Heaven  inspire  thee 
with  devotion.  These  shall  give  thee  happiness  in  thy 
present  state,  and  bring  thee  to  the  mansions  of  felicity 
in  the  paradise  of  God  " 

"We  know  that  all  things  work  together  for  good  to 
them  that  fear  God;  to  them  who  are  the  called  accord- 
ing to  his  purpose." 


THE    PICTURE    PREACHER.  371 

THE  HANDSOME  BROTHER  AND  HIS  SISTER. 

A  certain  man  had  two  children,  a  son  and  a  daugh- 
ter. The  boy  beautiful  and  handsome  enough ;  the 
girl  not  quite  so  well.  They  were  both  very  young, 
and  happened  one  day  to  be  playing  near  the  looking- 
glass,  which  stood  on  their  mother's  toilet;  the  boy, 
pleased  with  the  novelty  of  the  thing,  viewed  himself 
for  some  time  and  in  a  wanton,  roguish  manner  took 
notice  to  the  girl  how  handsome  he  was.  She  resented 
it,  and  could  not  bear  the  insolent  manner  in  which  he 
did  it,  for  she  understood  it,  (as  how  could  she  do  oth- 
erwise ?)  intended  for  a  direct  affront  to  her.  There- 
fore she  ran  immediately  to  her  father,  and,  with  a 
great  deal  of  aggravation,  complained  of  her  brother, 
particularly,  for  having  acted  so  effeminate  a  part  as 
to  look  in  a  glass,  and  meddle  with  things  which  be- 
longed to  women  only.  The  father  embracing  them 
both,  with  much  tenderness  and  affection  told  them 
that  he  should  like  to  have  them  both  look  in  the  glass 
everyday;  'Ho  the  intent  that  you,"  says  he  to  the 
boy,  '^  if  you  think  that  face  of  yours  handsome,  may 
not  disgrace  and  spoil  it  by  an  ugly  temper  and  a  foul 
behavior;"  ''you,"  says  he,  speaking  to  the  girl,  "that 
you  may  make  up  for  the  defects  of  your  person,  if 
there  be  any,  by  the  sweetness  of  your  manners  and 
the  agreeableness  of  your  conversation." 

Application.- — There  is  scarce  anything  we  see,  es- 
pecially what  belongs  to  our  own  person,  but  is  capa- 
ble of  aflfording  us  matter  for  useful  consideration.  And 
this  fable  is  worthy  the  attention  of  every  stage  of  life, 
from  the  child  to  the  old  man.  Let  each  of  us  take  a 
glass,  and  view  himself  considerately.  He  that  is  self- 
conceited,  will  find  beauties  in  every  feature.  Let  it 
be  so ;  yet  if  he  would  be  complete,  he  must  take  care 
that  the  inward  man  does  not  disgrace  the  outward ; 
that  the  depravity  of  his  manners  and  behavior  does 
not  spoil  his  face  and  distort  his  limbs ;  or,  which  is 


372 


ROYAL   ROAD   TO   HAPPINESS;   OR 


THE  HANDSOME  BROTHER  AND  HIS  SISTER. 


Judge  not  according  to   the  appearance^  hut  judge  righteous 

judgment.     John  vii.  24. Let  not  then  your  good  be  evil  spoken 

of.     Rom.  xiv.  16. Whose  adorning  let  it  be^ , .  ^  the  ornament 

of  a  meek  and  quiet  spirit  which  is  in  the  sight  of  God  of  great 

price.     I.  Pet.  iii.  3,  4. Favor  is  deceitful^  and  beauty  is  vain. 

Prov.  xxxi.  30. Every  one  that  is  proud  in  heart  is  an  abom- 
ination to  the  Lord.     Prov.  xvi.  5. But  the  proud  he  knoweth 

afar  off.  Prov.  cxxxviii.  6. For  not  he  that  commendeth  him- 
self is  approved^  but  whom  the  Lord  commendeth.  II.  Cor.  x.  1 8. 
For  the  things  which  are  seen  are  temporal;  but  the  things  which 
are  ?iot  seen  are  eternal.    II.  Cor.  iv.  1 8. 


THE    PICTURE    PREACHER.  373 

the  same  thing,  make  his  whole  person  odious  and  de- 
testable to  the  eye  of  his  beholders.  Is  any  one  mod- 
est in  this  respect,  and  deficient  of  himself  ?  Or  has 
he  indeed  blemishes  and  imperfections  which  may  de- 
preciate him  in  the  sight  of  mankind  ?  Let  him  strive 
to  improve  the  faculties  of  the  mind,  where  perhaps 
nature  has  not  cramped  him;  and  to  excel  in  the 
beauties  of  a  good  temper  and  an  agreeable  conversa- 
tion, the  charms  of  which  are  so  much  more  lasting 
and  unalterably  endearing,  than  those  of  the  other 
sort  They  who  are  beautiful  in  person  have  this 
peculiar  advantage,  that,  with  a  moderate  regard  to 
complaisance  and  good  manners,  they  bespeak  every 
one's  opinion  in  their  favor,  but  then,  let  the  outside  of 
a  man  be  ever  so  rough  and  uncouth,  if  his  acquired 
accomplishments  are  but  sweet  and  engaging  how 
easily  do  we  overlook  the  rest  and  value  him,  like  an 
oriental  jewel,  not  by  a  glittering  outside  which  is 
common  to  baser  stones,  but  by  its  intrinsic  worth,  his 
bright  imagination,  his  clear  reason,  and  the  transpar- 
ent sincerity  of  his  honest  heart ! 


WRATH  QUIETED  BEFORE   SUNSET. 

Two  good  men,  on  some  occasion,  had  a  warm  dis- 
pute, and  remembering  the  exhortation  of  the  apostle, 
^*  Let  not  the  sun  go  down  upon  your  wrath,''  just 
before  sunset  one  of  them  went  to  the  other,  and 
knocking  at  the  door,  his  offended  friend  came  and 
opened  it,  and  seeing  who  it  was,  started  back  in  as- 
tonishment and  surprise ;  the  other  at  the  same  time 
cried  otit,  "The  sun  is  almost  down."  This  unex- 
pected salutation  softened  the  heart  of  his  friend  into 
affection,  and  he  returned  for  answer,  "  Come  in, 
brother,  come  in." 

What  a  happy  method  of  conciliating  matters,  of 
redressing  grievances,  and  of  reconciling  brethren  ! 


374  EOYAL   KOAD    TO    HAPPINESS;    OR 

PRESUMPTION. 

[From  the  Economy  of  Life.] 

Pride  and  meanness  seem  incompatible,  but  mkn  rec 
oncileth  contrarieties  ;  he  is  at  once  the  most  miserable 
and  arrogant  of  all  creatures. 

Presumption  is  the  bane  of  reason ;  it  is  the  nurse 
of  error ;  yet  it  is  congenial  with  reason  in  us. 

Who  is  there  that  judgeth  not  either  too  highly  of 
himself,  or  thinketh  too  meanly  of  others  ? 

Our  Creator  himself  escapeth  not  ^ur  presumption ; 
how  then  shall  we  be  safe  from  one  another  ? 

What  is  the  origin  of  superstition?  and  whence 
ariseth  false  worship  ?  From  our  presuming  to  reason 
about  that  which  is  above  our  reach ;  to  comprehend 
what  is  incomprehensible. 

He  who  dareth  not  repeat  the  name  of  his  prince 
without  horror,  yet  blusheth  not  to  call  that  of  his 
Creator  to  be  witness  to  a  lie. 

He  who  would  hear  the  sentence  of  the  magistrate 
with  silence,  yet  dareth  to  plead  w  ith  the  Eternal ;  he 
attempteth  to  soothe  him  with  entreaties,  to  flatter  him 
with  promises,  to  agree  with  him  upon  conditions  ;  nay, 
to  brave  and  murmur  at  him,  if  his  request  is  not 
granted. 

Why  art  thou  unpunished,  0  man !  in  thy  impiety, 
but  that  this  is  not  thy  day  of  retribution. 

Be  not  like  unto  those  who  fight  with  the  thunder ; 
nor  dare  thou  deny  the  Creator  thy  prayers,  because 
he  chastiseth  thee.  Thy  madness  is  on  thine  own  head 
in  this ;  thy  impiety  hurteth  no  one  but  thyself. 

Why  boasteth  man  that  he  is  the  favorite  of  his 
Maker,  yet  neglecteth  to  pay  his  thanks,  his  adorations 
for  it  1  How  suiteth  such  a  life  with  a  belief  so  haughty  ? 
Man  who  is  truly  but  a  mote  in  the  wide  expanse,  be- 
lieves the  whole  earth  and  heaven  created  for  him ;  he 
thinketh  the  whole  frame  of  nature  hath  interest  in  his 
well-being. 


THE   PICTURE   PREACHER.  375 

Exalt  not  thyself  to  the  heavens ;  for  lo  !  the  angels 
are  above  thee ;  nor  disdain  thy  fellow-inhabitants  of 
the  earth,  in  that  they  are  beneath  thee.  Are  they  not 
the  work  of  the  same  hand  ? 

Thou  who  art  happy  by  the  mercy  of  thy  Creator, 
how  darest  thou  in  wantonness  put  others  of  his  crea 
tiu-es   to  torture  ?     Beware   that  it  return  not  upon 
thee. 

Serve  they  not  all  the  same  universal  Master  with 
thee?  Hath  he  not  appointed  to  them  their  laws? 
Hath  he  not  the  care  of  their  preservation  ?  and  darest 
thou  to  infringe  it  ? 

Set  not  thy  judgment  above  that  of  all  the  earth ; 
neither  condemn  as  a  falsehood,  what  agreeth  not  with 
thine  own  apprehension.  Who  gave  thee  the  power  of 
determining  for  others  ?  or  who  took  from  the  world 
the  right  of  choice  ? 

How  many  things  h^ve  been  rejected,  which  now  are 
received  as  truths  ?  How  many  now  received  as  truths 
shall,  in  their  turn,  be  despised  ?  Of  what  then  can 
man  be  certain  ? 

Do  the  good  that  thou  knowest,  and  happiness  shall 
be  unto  thee. 

Virtue  is  more  thy  business  here  than  wisdom. 

Truth  and  falsehood,  have  they  not  the  same  appear- 
ance in  what  we  understand  not?  What  then,  but  our 
presumption,  can  determine  between  them  ? 

We  easily  believe  what  is  above  our  comprehension ; 
or  we  are  proud  to  pretend  it,  that  it  may  appear  we 
understand  it.     Is  not  this  folly  and  arrogance  ? 

Who  is  it  that  affirms  most  boldly  ?  Who  is  it  that 
holds  his  opinion  most  obstinately  ?  Even  he  who 
hath  most  ig-norance ;  for  he  hath  also  most  pride. 

Every  man,  when  he  layeth  hold  of  an  opinion,  de- 
sireth  to  remain  in  it ;  but  most  of  all,  he  who  hath 
most  presumption.  He  contenteth  not  himself  to  be- 
tray his  own  soul  into  it,  but  he  will  impose  it  on  oth- 
ers to  believe  in  it  also 


376 


ROYAL  ROAD   TO  HAPPINESS;   OR 


THE  LION  AND  THE  FOUR  BULLS. 


AfrQward  man  soweth  strife;  and  a  whisperer  separateth  chief 

friends.     Prov.  xvi.  28. Speak  evil  of  no  man.    Tit.  iii.  2. 

Thou  shalt  not  go  up  and  down  as  a  tale-bearer  among  thy  people^ 
.  . .    thou  shalt  not  hate  thy  brother  in  thine  heart.     Lev.  xix.  16, 

17. 1  fear  lest  there  be  debates^  envyings,  wraths^  strifes^  back- 

bitingSy  whisperings^  swellings,  tumults.     II.  Cor.  xii.  20. Death 

and  life  are  in  the  power  of  the  tongue;  and  they  that  love  it 
shall  eat  the  fruit  thereof    Prov.  xviii  21. 


THE   PICTURE    PREACHER  377 

Say  not  that  truth,  is  established  by  years,  or  that  In 
a  multitude  of  believers  there  is  certainty. 

One  human  proposition  hath  as  much  authority  as 
another,  if  reason  maketh  not  the  difference. 


THE  LION  AND  THE  FOUR  BULLS. 

Four  bulls,  which  had  entered  into  a  very  strict 
friendship,  kept  always  near  one  another,  and  fed  to- 
gether. The  lion  often  saw  them,  and  as  often  had  a 
mind  to  make  one  of  them  his  prey;  but  though  he 
could  easily  have  subdued  any  of  them  singly,  yet  he 
was  afraid  to  attack  the  whole  alliance,  knowing  they 
would  have  been  too  hard  for  him,  and  therefore  con- 
tented himself  for  the  present  with  keeping  at  a  distance. 

At  last,  perceiving  no  attempt  was  to  be  made  upon 
them  as  long  as  this  combination  held,  he  took  occa- 
sion, by  whispers  and  hints,  to  foment  jealousies  and 
raise  divisions  among  them.  This  stratagem  succeeded 
so  well  that  the  bulls  grew  cold  and  reserved  toward 
one  another,  which  soon  after  ripened  into  a  downright 
hatred  and  aversion,  and,  at  last,  ended  in  a  total  sep- 
aration. The  lion  had  now  obtained  his  ends ;  and  as 
impossible  as  it  was  for  him  to  hurt  them  while  they 
were  united,  he  found  no  difficulty,  now  they  were 
parted,  to  seize  and  devour  every  bull  of  them,  one 
after  another. 

Application. — The  moral  of  this  fable  is  so  well 
known  and  allowed,  that  to  go  about  to  enlighten  it 
would  be  like  holding  a  candle  to  the  sun.  A  king- 
dom divided  against  itself  cannot  stand ;  and  as  undis- 
puted a  maxim  as  it  is,  it  was,  however,  thought  neces- 
sary to  be  urged  to  the  attention  of  mankind,  by  the 
best  man  that  ever  lived.  And  since  friendships  and 
alliances  are  of  so  great  importance  to  our  well-being 
and  happiness,  we  cannot  be  too  often  cautioned  not  to 
let  them  be  broken  by  tale-bearers  and  whisperers,  or 
any  other  contrivance  of  our  enemies. 


378        ROYAL  ROAD  TO  HAPPINESS;  OR 

THE  WOLF  IN  SHEEFS  CLOTHINa 

A  wolf  clothing  himself  in  the  skin  of  a  sheep,  and 
getting  in  among  the  flock,  by  this  means  took  the 
opportunity  to  devour  many  of  them.  At  last  the 
shepherd  discovered  him,  and  cunningly  fastened  a 
rope  about  his  neck,  tying  him  up  to  a  tree  which 
stood  hard  by.  Some  other  shepherds  happening  to 
pass  that  way,  and  observing  what  he  was  about,  drew 
near,  and  expressed  their  admiration  at  it.  *^What," 
says  one  of  them,  '^  brother,  do  you  make  hanging  of 
sheep?"  *^No,"  repHes  the  other,  *^but  I  make  hang- 
ing of  a  wolf  whenever  I  catch  him,  though  in  the  habit 
and  garb  of  a  sheep.''  Then  he  shewed  them  their  mis- 
take, and  they  applauded  the  justice  of  the  execution. 

Application. — This  fable  shows  us,  that  no  regard 
is  to  be  had  to  the  mere  habit  or  outside  of  any  per- 
son, but  to  undisguised  worth  and  intrinsic  virtue. 
When  we  place  our  esteem  upon  the  external  garb, 
before  we  inform  ourselves  of  the  qualities  which  it 
covers,  we  may  often  mistake  evil  for  good,  and  instead 
of  a  sheep  take  a  wolf  into  our  protection.  Therefore, 
however  innocent  or  sanctified  any  one  may  appear, 
as  to  the  vesture  wherewith  he  is  clothed,  we  may  act 
rashly,  because  we  may  be  imposed  upon,  if  from 
thence  we  take  it  for  granted  that  he  is  inwardly  as 
good  and  righteous  as  his  outward  robe  would  per- 
suade us  he  is.  Men  of  judgment  and  penetration  do 
not  use  to  give  an  implicit  credit  to  a  particular  habit, 
or  a  peculiar  color,  but  love  to  make  a  more  exact 
scrutiny ;  for  that  he  will  come  up  to  the  character  of 
an  honest,  good  kind  of  man,  when  stripped  of  his 
sheep's  clothing,  is  but  the  more  detestable  for  his 
intended  imposture ;  as  the  wolf  was  but  the  more 
obnoxious  to  the  shepherd's  resentment,  by  wearing  a 
habit  so  little  suited  to  his  manners. 

The  conduct  of  the  shepherd  in  hanging  the  dog 
who  killed  the  harmless  sheep  entrusted  to  his  care  is 


THE   PICTURE   PREACHER. 


379 


THE  WOLF  IN  SHEEP'S  CLOTHING, 


Beware  of  false  prophets  , .  ,  ,  in  sheep's  clothing;  hut  inwardly 
.  . .  ,  ravening  wolves.  Matt.  vii.  15.  He  that  enter eth  not  by 
the  door  into  the  sheep  fold .  , , .  is  a  thief  and  a  robber,     John 

X.  1. The  thief  Cometh  not  but  for  to  steals  to  kill  and  destroy, 

John  X.  10. 77iey  profess  to  know    God/  but  in  works  deny 

him,     Titus  i.  16. Ye  shall  know  them  by  their  fruits.     Matt. 

vii.  16. Your  father,  the  devil,  was  a  m?(rderer  from  the  begin- 

ning  .  . .  ,  for  he  is  a  liar,  and  the  father  of  it,     John  viiL  44. 


380  EOYAL   ROAD   TO   HAPPINESS;   OR 

sanctioned  by  human  and  Divine  law.  Justice  and 
mercy  both  require  that  he  who  takes  the  hfe  of  a 
fellow  being  shall  have  his  own  taken  from  him.  He 
has  committed  the  greatest  of  crimes  so  he  must  suffer 
the  greatest  of  punishments.  Mercy  to  human  society 
requires  that  the  murderer  shall  be  stopped  instantly 
and  absolutely  prevented  from  committing  murder  any 
more.  Some  have  contended  that  the  murderer  ought 
not  to  be  hanged  for  his  crime,  but  shut  up  in  some 
strong  prison  for  life,  perhaps  he  will  reform,  etc. 
This  is  too  hazardous  an  experiment  for  the  public 
good,  as  prisoners  sometimes  break  out  of  prison  and 
commence  a  new  career  of  crime. 

When  a  man  becomes  so  depraved  as  to  deliberately 
murder,  there  is  but  little  hope  that  he  will  reform. 
Many  times  where  benevolent  persons  have  taken  into 
their  own  houses  homeless  wanderers,  fed,  clothed  and 
treated  them  in  the  kindest  manner,  they  have  been 
robbed  by  them.  Instances  have  been  known,  where 
depraved  creatures  who  have  been  kindly  taken  in  and 
cared  for,  have  not  only  robbed  but  murdered  their 
benefactors. 


THE  FOX  AND  THE  CROW. 

A  crow  having  taken  a  bit  of  cheese  out  of  a  cottage 
window,  flew  up  into  a  high  tree  with  it,  in  order  to 
eat  it ;  which  the  fox  observing,  came  and  sat  under- 
neath, and  began  to  compliment  the  crow  upon  the 
subject  of  her  beauty.  "I  protest,"  says  he,  "  I  never 
observed  it  before,  but  your  feathers  are  of  a  more  del- 
icate white  than  any  that  ever  I  saw  in  my  life  !  Ah  ! 
what  a  fine  shape  and  graceful  turn  of  body  is  there  ! 
And  I  make  no  question  but  you  have  a  tolerable  voice. 
If  it  is  but  as  fine  as  your  complexion,  I  do  not  know 
a  bird  that  can  pretend  to  stand  in  competition  with 
you." 


.<  A 

THI 


THE  PICTURE  PREACHER, 


il^'CALIFO 


THE  FOX  AND  THE  CROW. 


TTielr  tongue  is  as  an  arrow  shot  out;  it  speaTceth  deceit;  one 
speaketh  peaceably  to  his  neighbor  with  his  mouthy  but  in  heart 

he  layeth  his  wait.    Jer.  ix.  8. They  speak  vanity  every  one 

with  his  neighbor^  with  flattering  lips,  and  with  a  double  heart  do 

tliey  speak,    Psa.  xii.  2. They  come  to  thee  as  the  people  com' 

eth,  and  they  sit  before  thee, with  their  mouth  they  show 

much  love,  but  their  heart  goeth  after  their  covetoicsness,    Ezek. 
xxxiii.  31. 


382  ROYAL   ROAD    TO   HAPPINESS;    OR 

The  crow,  tickled  with  this  very  civil  language,  nest- 
led and  wriggled  about,  and  hardly  knew  where  she 
was ;  but,  thinking  the  fox  a  little  dubious  as  to  the 
particular  of  her  voice,  and  having  a  mind  to  set  him 
right  in  that  matter,  began  to  sing,  and,  in  the  same 
instant,  let  the  cheese  drop  out  of  her  mouth. 

This  being  what  the  fox  wanted,  he  chopped  it  up 
in  a  moment,  and  trotted  away,  laughing  to  himself  at 
the  easy  credulity  of  the  crow. 

Application. — They  that  love  flattery  (as,  it  is  to  be 
feared,  too  many  do),  are  in  a  fair  way  to  repent  of 
their  foible  at  the  long  run.  And  yet  how  few  are 
there,  among  the  whole  race  of  mankind,  who  may  be 
said  to  be  full  proof  against  its  attacks !  The  gross 
way  by  which  it  is  managed  by  some  silly  practition- 
ers is  enough  to  alarm  the  dullest  apprehension,  and 
make  it  to  value  itself  upon  the  quickness  of  its  insight 
into  the  little  plots  of  this  nature. 

But  let  the  ambuscade  be  disposed  with  due  judg- 
ment, and  it  will  scarce  fail  of  seizing  the  most  guarded 
heart.  How  many  are  tickled  to  the  last  degree  with 
the  pleasure  of  flattery,  even  while  they  are  applauded 
for  their  honest  detestation  of  it !  There  is  no  way  to 
baffle  the  force  of  this  engine,  but  by  every  one's 
examining  impartially  for  himself,  the  true  estimate  of 
his  own  qualities :  if  he  deals  sincerely  in  the  matter, 
nobody  can  tell  so  well  as  himself,  what  degree  of 
esteem  ought  to  attend  any  of  his  actions ;  and  there- 
fore he  should  be  entirely  easy  as  to  the  opinion  men 
are  like  to  have  of  them  in  the  world. 

If  they  attribute  more  to  him  than  is  his  due,  they 
are  either  designing  or  mistaken ;  if  they  allow  him  less, 
they  are  envious,  or,  possibly,  still  mistaken ;  and,  in 
either  case,  are  to  be  despised  or  disregarded.  For  he 
that  flatters  without  designing  to  make  advantage  of  it, 
is  a  fool ;  and  whoever  encourages  that  flattery,  which 
he  has  sense  enough  to  see  through,  and  understand  to 
be  flattery  merely,  is  a  vain  coxcomb. 


THE  PICTURE   PBEACHER. 


383 


--p^^i;^^^^^^'i^5^^-^'■  " 


^z:r....»i«iuffinr«"««iiii< 


..•ilil> 


THE  SHEEP-BITER  OR  MURDERER. 


Trust  ye  not  in  lying  words.    Jer.  vii.  4. Deceit  is  in  the 

heart  of  them  that  imagine  evil.  Prov.  xii.  26. Mine  own  fa- 
miliar friend  in  whom  1  trusted  hath  lifted  up  his  hand  against 
me,  Psa.  xii.  9. This  is  thy  lot ,  .  ,  ,  because  thou  hast  forgot- 
ten me  and  trusted  in  falsehood.    Jer.  xiii.  25. Speaking  lies  in 

hypocrisy,    I.  Tim.  iv.  2. The  hypocrite'' s  hope  shall  perish. 

Job  viii.  8. Suddenly  shall  he  he  broken  without  remedy,  Prov. 

vi.  16. 


384  ROYAL   EOAD   TO   HAPPINESS;   OR 

THE  TREACHEROUS  CUR. 

A  certain  shepherd  had  a  dog,  upon  whose  fidelity 
he  reHed  very  much ;  for  whenever  he  had  an  occasion 
to  be  absent  himself,  he  committed  the  care  and  tuition 
of  the  flock  to  the  charge  of  his  dog ;  and  to  encour- 
age him  to  do  his  duty  cheerfully,  he  fed  him  con- 
stantly with  sweet  curds  and  whey;  and  sometimes 
threw  him  a  crust  or  two  extraordinary.  Yet,  notwith- 
standing this,  no  sooner  was  his  back  turned,  but  the 
treacherous  cur  fell  foul  upon  the  flock,  and  devoured 
the  sheep,  instead  of  guarding  and  defending  them. 
The  shepherd  being  informed  of  this  was  resolved  to 
hang  him ;  and  the  dog,  when  the  rope  was  about  his 
neck,  and  he  was  just  going  to  be  tied  up,  began  to 
expostulate  with  his  master,  asking  him,  why  he  was 
so  unmercifully  bent  against  him,  who  was  his  own 
servant  and  creature,  and  had  only  committed  one  or 
two  crimes ;  and  why  he  did  not  rather  execute  re- 
venge upon  the  wolf,  who  was  a  constant  and  declared 
enemy?  "Nay,"  replies  the  shepherd,  "it  is  for  that 
reason  that  I  think  you  ten  times  more  worthy  of  death 
than  he :  from  him  I  expected  nothing  but  hostilities, 
and  therefore  could  guard  against  him;  you  I  de- 
pended upon  as  a  just  and  faithful  servant,  and  fed 
and  encouraged  you  accordingly ;  and  therefore  your 
treachery  is  the  more  notorious,  and  your  ingratitude 
the  more  unpardonable." 

Application. — No  injuries  are  so  bitter  and  so  inex- 
cusable as  those  which  proceed  from  men  whom  we 
trusted  as  friends,  and  in  whom  we  placed  a  confi- 
dence. An  open  enemy,  however  inveterate,  may 
overpower  and  destroy  us,  or  perhaps  may  hurt  -and 
afflict  us  only  in  some  measure ;  but  as  such  treatment 
cannot  surprise  us,  because  we  expected  no  less,  neither 
can  it  give  us  half  the  grief  and  uneasiness  of  mind, 
which  we  are  apt  to  feel  when  we  find  ourselves 
wronged  by  the  treachery  and  falsehood  of  a  friend. 


THE   PICTURE   PREACHER.  385 

When  the  man  whom  we  trusted  and  esteemed 
proves  injurious  to  us,  it  is  a  calamity  so  cruelly  com- 
plicated in  its  circumstances,  that  it  involves  us  in 
grief  of  many  folds,  and  multiplies  the  sum  of  our 
infelicity.  At  one  and  the  same  time,  we  find  a  foe 
where  we  least  expected,  and  lose  a  friend  when  we 
most  wanted  him :  which  must  be  as  severe  and  pierc- 
ing, as  it  is  sudden  and  surprising.  It  is  natural, 
therefore,  for  our  resentment  to  be  in  proportion  to  our 
sense  of  such  an  injury ;  and  that  we  should  wish  the 
punishment  inflicted  upon  the  transgressor  as  will  pre- 
vent him  from  repeating  it.  It  is,  in  short,  not  fit  that 
he  should  live  longer. 


DEVOTEE  TO   PLEASURE. 

It  is  a  certain  maxim,  as  well  of  experience  as  of 
revelation,  that  '^  He  that  loveth  pleasure  shall  be  a 
poor  man."     The  truth  is  poetically  expressed : 

"  He  that  pleasure  loves 
A  beggar  shall  prove." 

Indeed  scarce  any  maxim  is  so  fully  sanctioned  by 
experience ;  since  in  all  ages  and  among  all  ranks  and 
classes,  an  inordinate  love  of  pleasure  has  proved  the 
certain  road  to  want  and  ruin. 

Most  strikingly  verified  is  this  sacred  text  in  the 
instances  of  drunkards  and  debauchees,  who  give  up 
themselves  soul  and  body  to  the  embraces  of  pleasure 
in  her  grossest  and  most  disgusting  forms.  Always 
and  everywhere  these  profligates,  after  a  short  run, 
come  out  not  merely  poor  men  but  poor  creatures. 
Inevitably  and  very  shortly,  they  become  the  poorest 
of  the  poor ;  alike  destitute  in  circumstances  and  detest- 
able in  character;  a  burden  to  their  fiiends  and  a 
lieavier  burden  to  themselves. 

17 


386  ROYAL    ROAD    TO    HAPPINESS;    OR 

Mark  the  young  beginner  in  the  career  of  profligacy; 
one  not  of  the  baser  sort,  or  even  of  the  common  sort 
— a  child  of  fortune,  a  heritor  of  wealth.  How  accom- 
plished !  how  blithe  !  how  jovial ! 

Mark  him  again,  in  his  next  stage,  when  youth  is  just 
ripened  into  the  maturity  of  manhood. 

"  If  thou  beest  he,  but  O  how  fallen  !  how  chansred !" 

See  his  bloated  countenance,  his  livid  cheek,  his 
beamless  eye !  Once  more,  mark  his  mid-age.  The 
crop  is  now  fully  ripe.  See  what  it  is ! — squalid  pov- 
erty ;  loathsome  disease ;  bodily  decrepitude  and  men- 
tal imbecility ;  alike  loathsome  and  self-loathing. 

Finally,  mark  his  end.  *^  This  man  of  pleasure,  when, 
after  a  wretched  scene  of  vanity  and  woe,  his  animal 
nature  is  worn  to  the  stumps,  wishes  and  dreads  death, 
by  turns." — Now  he  is  sick  of  life,  and  bitterly  chides 
the  tardiness  of  time : — anon  he  starts  back  with  hor- 
ror, lest  the  grave  should  not  prove  a  *^  dreamless  bed." 

The  classes  of  downright  drunkards  and  debauchees 
include,  however,  but  a  small  proportion  of  the  hapless 
mortals  whom  the  siren  Fleasure  allures  to  their  ruin 
and  destruction. 

^'Come  on,  let  us  enjoy  the  good  things  that  are  pres- 
ent. Let  us  crown  ourselves  with  rose-buds,  before 
they  be  withered."  With  such  language  it  is  that  the 
sorceress  persuades  and  prompts  the  youthful  heart; 
nor  does  she  persuade  and  prompt  in  vain.  The  deli- 
cious poison  insinuates  itself,  and  spreads  over  the 
whole  frame.  The  youth,  thus  infected,  becomes  unsta- 
ble in  all  his  ways.  All  close  and  steady  application, 
whether  to  study  or  to  business,  he  heartily  loathes. 
Plodding  industry  of  every  kind,  he  regards  with  scorn. 
To  make  as  it  were  a  holiday  of  the  whole  year  round, 
is  the  object  of  his  desire  and  the  summit  of  his  ambi- 
tion. As  years  multiply  upon  him,  his  habits  of  fickle- 
ness are  but  the  more  riveted.  He  is  within  the  cir- 
cumference of  a  whirlpool,  with  a  heart  and  mind  too 


THE    PICTURE    PREACHER.  387 

enervated  to  force  his  way  back.  Perhaps  he  remains, 
however,  on  the  extremity,  and  never,  in  his  whole  life 
time,  is  drawn  to  the  fatal  center,  where  is  utter  wreck 
of  reputation  and  of  the  whole  moral  frame.  Perhaps 
he  escapes  the  grosser  vices.  Perhaps  no  foul  blot 
cleaves  to  his  character,  and  the  worst  which  can  be 
said  of  him  is,  that  he  is  a  careless,  imprudent,  and 
improvident  man,  a  mighty  lover  of  jolly  company ; 
that  he  is  here,  and  there,  and  everywhere,  except  at 
home  and  about  his  own  proper  business. 

Lucky  indeed,  if  he  be  no  worse  off:  but  lucky  as 
he  is,  he  must  needs  be  a  poor  man;  poor  in  worldly 
circumstances,  and  of  a  character  almost  worthless  at 
the  best.  If  left  with  a  fortune,  it  melts  away  in  his 
improvident  hands.  If  he  begins  the  world  without 
fortune,  he  lays  up  nothing  for  sickness  and  old  age ; 
instead  of  which,  he  ever  lives  beyond  his  income,  by 
leeching  his  friends,  and  abusing  the  confidence  of  his 
creditors.  If  he  have  a  family,  his  wife  mingles  her 
scanty  meal  with  her  tears,  while  their  children  receive 
little  from  him  but  an  example  that  powerfully  tends 
to  lead  them  astray.  In  short,  he  is  exactly  such  as  no 
downright  honest  and  honorable  man  would  choose  to 
be.  If  all  were  like  him,  poverty,  wretchedness,  and 
misery  would  pervade  the  whole  fabric  of  human 
society. 

It  needs  scarcely  be  added,  that  a  lover  of  pleasure 
(even  one  of  the  comparatively  innocuous  sort  last 
mentioned),  seldom  enjoys  his  proportionable  share  of 
that  commodity.  At  best,  his  empty  pleasure  is  so 
mixed  up  with  vexation  of  spirit,  that  he  more  abun- 
dantly feels  the  one  than  enjoys  the  other.  Not  to 
mention,  that  an  idle,  useless  life,  however  free  from 
gross  immorality,  is,  in  the  sight  of  heaven,  a  criminal 
life ;  it  is  burying  the  talent  that  ought  to  have  been 
employed  diligently,  and  to  useful  purposes. 

We  have  received  our  earthly  existence,  not  on  con- 
ditions of  our  own  prescribing,  but  on  the  conditions 


388  KOYAL    ROAD    TO    HAPPINESS;    OR 

prescribed  by  him  who  made  us.  With  respect  to  the 
present  life,  as  well  as  the  future  one,  it  is  to  be  expected 
that  the  quality  of  the  harvest  will  be  the  same  as  that 
of  the  seed  If  we  eat  up  the  seed,  we  prevent  the 
crop.  If  we  sow  the  tares  of  idleness  and  prodigality, 
we  shall  reap  the  tares  of  poverty  and  shame.  There 
is  no  such  thing  as  abolishing,  or  bending,  or  evading 
the  fixed  laws  of  nature :  whether  we  like  them  or  not, 
they  will  go  steadily  into  effect. 

See  you  a  young  man  diligent  in  his  business,  frugal, 
provident  and  sober?  You  see  one  who  will  be 
respected  and  respectable,  who,  in  all  probability,  will 
enjoy,  through  life,  at  least  a  competence,  and  who 
will  be  a  blessing  to  his  family,  to  his  friends,  and  to 
society  at  large.  On  the  other  hand,  when  you  see 
young  men  idle,  improvident,  extravagant,  averse  from 
all  regular  and  close  attention  to  useful  business,  and 
practically  saying,  in  the  general  course  of  their  lives, 
'*  Go  to  now,  let  us  enjoy  pleasure ;"  you  then  see  such 
as  are  speeding,  if  not  into  atrocious  crimes,  at  least 
into  the  condition  of  beggarly  want ;  such  as  will  wring 
the  hearts  of  fathers,  mothers,  wives,  and  children; 
such  as  will  be  moths  upon  society,  rather  than  its  use- 
ful and  worthy  members. 

Even  worldly  interest  imperiously  requires  self- 
denial.  One  who  can  deny  himself  of  nothing,  will  be 
good  for  nothing,  however  excellent  be  his  talents,  and 
however  great  his  advantages.  To  learn  youths  the  art 
of  self-denial,  is  one  of  the  essential  branches  of  good 
education.  That  is  best  done  by  storing  their  minds, 
seasonably,  with  the  precepts,  prohibitions,  and  warn- 
ings, contained  in  the  Holy  Bible.  Next  to  this,  they 
should  by  all  means  be  kept  from  contracting  habits  of 
idleness  and  dissipation,  and  be  so  inured  to  some  kind  or 
other  of  laudable  industry,  that  their  very  toil,  whether 
of  business  or  of  study,  will  at  length  become  a  genuine 
pleasure,  as  all  honest  toil  should  be,  and  may  be  to  the 
honest  toiler. 


THE   PICTURE   PREACHEB.  389 

SELF  HELP. 

The  Chambers  Brothers,  William  and  Robert,  the 
great  Scotch  publishers,  started  in  life  mider  extraordi- 
nary pecuniary  difficulties.  But  they  owed  much  to 
the  wise  advice  of  their  father  in  teaching  them  self- 
help.     In  their  memoirs  William  says  ; 

^^  My  father  endeavored  to  impress  on  me  the  vast 
necessity  and  advantage  in  all  things,  of  thinking  for 
myself  and  taking,  as  far  as  possible,  an  independent 
course.  When  I  had  finished  my  apprenticeship  I 
should  strike  out  for  myself,  if  it  was  only  to  sell  books 
in  a  basket  from  door  to  door.  There  might  be  suffer- 
ing and  humiliation  in  the  meantime,  but  I  would  be 
daily  gaining  experience,  and  with  prudence,  accumu- 
lating means. 

My  father  had  strong  convictions  as  to  the  pro- 
priety of  allowing  children  to  think  and  to  struggle  for 
themselves — such,  in  his  opinion,  being  true  kindness, 
and  anything  else  little  better  than  cruelty.  Seated  in 
his  arm-chair  at  the  Pans,  with  two  or  three  of  us 
about  him,  he  would  discourse  in  this  pleasant  way, 
interlarding  anecdote  with  philosophy : 

'^  You  think  it  a  hard  business,  I  dare  say,''  address- 
ing me,  ^^to  live  in  your  present  pinching  way,  schem- 
ing as  to  buying  bread  and  milk,  and  all  that,  but  it  is 
doing  you  an  immense  deal  of  good.  It  is  strength- 
ening your  mind  and  teaching  you  the  art  of  thinking 
— that  is  the  great  point.  You  should  be  thankful  for 
my  not  doing  anything  for  you — lodgings,  tailors'  bills, 
books  and  what  not,  all  paid  for  the  asking.  What 
would  be  the  upshot  ? 

*^  You  would  never  know  the  value  of  money  You 
would  grow  up  as  ignorant  and  dependent  as  a  child, 
and  never  be  able  to  take  a  front  rank  in  the  world. 

"It  is  melancholy  to  see  so  many  fathers  spoiling 
their  children  from  mistaken  notions  of  kindness. 
Young  men  treated  in  that  foolish  way  can  do  nothing 


390  KOYAL   ROAD   TO   HAPPINESS;    OR 

for  themselves,  but  must  always  have  somebody 
behind  them  to  sliove  them  mto  situations  where  their 
minds  lose  all  power  of  thinking  and  planning  cor- 
rectly. I  could  tell  you  plenty  of  stories  about  ina- 
bility to  think  or  act  independently." 

He  then  went  on  to  narrate  the  case  of  an  excise 
officer  at  Peebles,  who,  stirred  up  by  his  wife,  an  am- 
bitious little  woman  with  whom  he  had  received  a 
little  money,  inconsiderately  threw  up  his  situation  and 
purchased  the  effects  of  a  deceased  brewer  at  Gala- 
shiels, his  object  being  to  go  at  once  into  business 
for  himself. 

When  he  came  to  look  Into  matters,  he  was  utterly 
at  a  loss.  It  w^as  all  simple  enough,  but  the  man  had 
utterly  lost  the  power  of  planning.  Besides  putting 
things  in  repair,  he  had  to  buy  grain  and  hops,  order 
new  barrels,  purchase  horses  and  hire  servants.  For 
one  thing  he  had  to  open  and  read  one  hundred  and 
thirty-nine  letters,  applying  for  the  situation  of  a  clerk. 
All  this,  along  with  other  perplexities,  drove  him  clean 
wild,  and  so  preyed  upon  his  mind  that  he  became  se- 
riously ill,  and  took  to  his  bed.  In  the  result  he  had 
to  sell  out  his  brewery  at  a  serious  loss,  from  his  sheer 
incapacity  to  manage  it.  He  could  obey  directions  and 
follow  a  leader,  but  he  could  not  lead  others,  nor  givQ 
such  directions  as  would  secure  profitable  service  from 
them. 

In  speaking  of  his  early  struggles  at  self  help,  and 
the  pleasure  with  miserably  insufficient  means  of  sur- 
mounting obstacles,  Mr.  William  Chambers  says  :  ^^  If 
the  young  and  thoughtless  could  only  be  made  to 
know  this — the  happiness,  the  dignity  of  honest  labor 
conducted  in  a  spirit  of  self-reliance — the  insignifi- 
cance and  probably  temporary  character  of  untoward 
circumstances  while  there  is  youth,  along  with  a  will- 
ing heart,  the  proud  satisfaction  of  acquiring,  by  per- 
severing industry,  instead  of  by  compassionate  dona- 
tion, how  differently  they  would  act." 


THE    PICTURE    PREACHER.  391 

THE  HERMIT  AND  THE  BEAR, 

An  old  man  wlio  had  lost  his  wife  and  all  his  chil- 
dren, took  it  so  much  to  heart,  that  he  felt  like  retiring 
from  the  world,  and  seeking-  some  solitude  where  he 
could  spend  the  residue  of  his  days  apart  from  the 
noise  and  bustle  of  the  world,  with  all  its  cares  and  dis- 
appointments. He  thus  hoped  to  spend  his  few  remain- 
ing days  in  calmness  until  the  great  change  took  place, 
when  he  should  expect  to  meet  his  beloved  ones  who 
had  gone  before.  He  selected  a  forest  a  little  off  from 
the  public  road  where  he  could  tranquilly  abide  with- 
out interruption.  He  found  a  spot,  a  kind  of  cave  in 
a  rocky  eminence,  which  he  was  able  to  transform  into 
a  comfortable  residence. 

As  he  was  one  day  taking  his  daily  walk  he  was 
startled  by  a  groan  which  he  heard  near  his  pathway. 
Ever  alive  and  compassionate  to  the  voice  of  distress, 
he  looked  around  him  and  saw  at  the  foot  of  a  tree  a 
large  bear  lying  wounded  and  helpless,  unable  to  walk 
or  stand.  The  poor  creature  lifted  up  its  foot  in  an 
imploring  manner  towards  the  hermit.  A  large  thorn 
was  seen  sticking  in  it,  which  he  had  no  means  to  extri- 
cate. Having  been  for  some  time  in  the  wound,  his 
limb  had  become  very  much  swollen,  while  the  pain 
was  excruciating.  The  hermit  gently  took  his  foot, 
and  skillfully  and  with  much  tenderness  removed  the 
thorn :  then,  putting  some  balsam  on  the  wound,  it  soon 
got  well.     He  also  gave  him  something  to  eat. 

The  first  walk  the  bear  took,  he  volunteered  *to  go 
home  with  the  hermit.  Tlie  old  man  did  not  much 
like  to  be  intimate  with  such  a  huge  shaggy  compan- 
ion. It  was  inconvenient,  as  his  manners  and  habits 
were  so  different  from  his  own.  The  object  of  the  bear 
seemed  to  be  to  live  with  the  hennit,  and  thus  show 
his  gratitude  and  respect  to  one  to  whom  he  owed  so 
much. 

One  day  in  sultry  weather,  the  hermit  had  taken  a 


392 


ROYAL   ROAD   TO   H APPIISTESS ;   OR 


THE  HERMIT  AND  THE  BEAR. 


Can  two  walk  together  except  they  he  agreed,    Amos  iil  3. • 

They  departed  asunder^  the  one  from  the  other.     Acts  xv.  37. 

Withdraw  from  every    brother    that    walketh   disorderly,      II. 

Thess.  iii.  6. Withdraw  thy  foot  from  thy  neighbofs  house 

lest  thou  weary  him.    Pro  v.  xxiiL  17. 


THE    PICTURE   PREACHER.  393 

longer  walk  than  usual ;  whereupon  he  sat  down  by 
the  side  of  his  cave,  and  being  much  fatigued,  fell 
asleep.  The  bear,  as  usual,  watched  close  by  him,  to 
care  that  he  should  not  be  disturbed  while  he  was  rest- 
ing. The  weather  being  warm,  the  flies  came  about 
the  hermit  and  lighted  on  his  face  and  tickled  him. 
The  old  man  shook  his  head,  but  did  not  awake.  The 
bear  growled,  but  the  flies  cared  nothing  for  his  growl- 
ings.  At  last  .a  large  hungry  fly,  a  regular  *^blue  bot- 
tle" it  must  have  been,  lit  on  the  hermit's  nose,  when 
the  bear,  to  stop  the  annoyance  to  his  friend,  attempted 
to  knock  him  away  with  one  of  his  paws.  The  fly  was 
killed ;  but  reaching  his  paw  further  than  he  intended, 
he  inflicted  a  bad  wound  on  the  hermit's  nose,  which 
would  require  much  time,  care  and  close  attention  to 
heal.  The  hermit  on  waking  up,  was  greatly  startled 
and  alarmed  at  what  his  friend  had  done,  and  did  not 
know  at  first  what  to  think  of  it.  But  putting  his  hand 
to  his  nose  he  felt  the  dead  fly  crushed  upon  it.  He 
then  knew  the  bear  had  done  it  in  an  attempt  to  do 
him  an  act  of  kindness.  This  occurrence  convinced 
the  hermit  that  it  sometimes  is  not  advisable  even  for 
undoubted  friends  to  live  together  in  intimate  relations. 
There  may  be  such  lack  of  adaptation  as  will  make  the 
acts  of  each  not  only  unpleasant,  but  really  damaging 
to  the  other. 

Application. — The  object  of  the  fable  is  to  show  the 
truth  of  the  maxim,  ^^  Be  friendly  to  all,  but  intimate 
with  hut  fewP  He  that  admits  into  his  company  an 
awkward  and  ill-matched  favorite,  will  some  time  or 
other  have  reason  to  grieve,  even  for  things  done  as 
favors.  Though  there  is  a  vast  variety  of  tastes  and 
dispositions  among  mankind,  yet  it  is  not  necessary  that 
there  should  be  anything  like  hate  or  opposition  to  the 
interest  of  our  fellow-beings.  It  appears  to  have  been 
the  design  that  the  human  race  should  be  divided  into 
families,  nations,  tongues  and  languages,  each  to  occupy 
different  parts  of  the  earth. 


394 


ROYAL   ROAD   TO   HAPPINESS;   OR 


^/i^^l^j^^^^^^^^^^J!^^ 


THE  OAK  AND  THE  REED. 


A  bruised  reed  shall  he  not  hreah.     Isa.  xlii.  3. Blessed  are 

the  meek  for  they  shall  inherit  the  earth.     Matt.  v.  6. Before 

destruction  the  heart  of  man  is  haughty^  and  before  honor  is  hu- 
mility.     Prov.  xviii.  12. The  proud  shall  stumble  and  fall,  and 

none  shall  raise  him  up.     Jer.  1.  32. Fbr    God  resisteth  the 

proud,  andgiveth  grace  to  the  humble,     1.  Pet.  v.  5. 


THE   PICTURE    PREACHER.  395 

THE  OAK  AND  THE  REED. 

A  vigorous  young  oak  having  grown  up  and  stood 
upon  the  plain  for  many  years,  felt  very  confident  that 
he  could  withstand  any  storm  or  tempest  that  should 
happen.  As  he  towered  above  all  the  small  trees, 
shrubs  and  plants  about  him,  he  felt  himself  superior 
to  and  looked  with  some  contempt  down  upon  them. 
It  happened,  however,  that  a  violent  storm  arose 
accompanied  by  lightning  and  a  whirlwind  of  great 
fury.  The  lightning  struck  the  tree,  and  shattered  its 
trunk,  while  the  whirlwind  scattered  all  its  branches 
level  to  the  earth.  The  great  body  of  the  tree  fell 
near  where  the  reed  was  growing  securely  on  a 
marshy  spot.  This  filled  the  oak  with  a  thought  of 
admiration ;  and  he  could  not  forbear  asking  the  reed, 
how  he  came  to  remain  so  secure  and  unhurt  in  a  tem- 
pest, while  he  a  strong  and  stubborn  oak  could  not 
withstand  the  fury  of  the  storm?  The  reed  replied, 
>*I  secure  myself  by  putting  on  a  behavior  quite  con- 
trary to  what  you  do ;  instead  of  being  stubborn  and 
stiff,  and  confiding  in  my  strength,  I  yield  and  bend  to 
the  blast,  and  let  it  go  over  me ;  knowing  how  vain 
and  fruitless  it  would  be  to  resist." 

Application. — Though  a  tame  submission  to  inju- 
ries which  it  is  in  our  power  to  redress  be  generally 
esteemed  by  many  persons  as  a  want  of  a  proper 
manly  spirit,  yet  to  resist  where  there  is  no  probability 
of  a  success,  may  also  be  looked  upon  as  a  blind  temer- 
ity and  foolish  confidence.  The  strokes  of  Fortune 
are  sometimes  as  irresistible  as  they  are  severe ;  and 
he  who  impatiently  and  with  a  dogged  spirit  fights 
against  her,  instead  of  alleviating,  doubles  her  blows 
against  himself.  A  person  who  shows  a  quiet  and  still 
temper,  calmly  composes  himself  in  ihe  midst  of  a 
storm.  Like  a  prudent  and  experienced  sailor  who  is 
swimming  to  the  shore  from  a  wrecked  vessel  in  a 
swelling  sea,  he  does  not  oppose  the  fury  of  the  waves, 


396        ROYAL  ROAD  TO  HAPPINESS;  OR 

but  stoops  or  bends  like  the  reed  in  the  fable,  so  that 
the  waves  may  pass  over  his  head  without  doing  him 
injury. 


THE  PERILS  OF  YOUTH. 

The  engraving"  is  illustrative  of  the  youth  who  ven- 
tures too  near  the  maelstrom,  or  whirlpool,  on  a  rocky 
and  a  dangerous  coast.  He  is  in  pursuit  of  pleasure, 
and  feels  confident  of  his  skill  in  managing  his  little 
boat  so  that  it  shall  not  enter  any  fatal  vortex,  although 
he  may  approach  near  it  Before  he  is  aware,  he 
gradually,  and  in  some  unguarded  moment,  so  enters 
into  the  fatal  whirl  that  his  boat  is  drawn  in  and  he 
perishes  beneath  the  mighty  waters. 

Our  life  is  beset  with  many  perils  at  almost  every 
step,  but  no  period  of  it  is  perhaps  quite  so  perilous 
as  that  in  which  the  boy  is  stepping  into  manhood. 
Then  it  is  that  his  feeling  is  fervid,  his  hope  vivid  and 
his  self-confidence  at  the  highest.  Then  it  is  he  listens 
with  the  most  rapture  to  the  voice  of  the  siren,  then 
it  is  that  his  heart  is  most  susceptible  to  the  allure- 
ments of  pleasure ;  and  it  is  then  that  he  spurns  alike 
the  trammels  of  restraint  and  the  counsels  of  friendship. 

Untaught  by  experience,  he  despises  the  experience 
of  others;  wise  in  his  own  conceit,  he  scorns  the 
admonitions  of  age  and  riper  judgment ;  full  of  himself, 
he  feels  no  need  of  direction  or  advisement,  and  re- 
gards it  as  an  insult  to  his  understanding.  He  feels  a 
sentiment  of  indignation  and  disdain  towards  those 
who  should  presume  to  teach  him  how  to  behave. 
His  sense  is  deceived^  *'his  soul  is  in  a  dream,  he  is 
fully  confident  that  he  sees  things  clearly,  and  yet  he 
sees  them  in  a  false  mirror,  exactly  such  as  they  are 
not" 

Nor  is  it  always  the  youths  of  the  least  promise  that 


THE   PICTURE   PREACHER. 


397 


PERILS  OF  YOUTH. 


Enter  not  into  the  path  of  the  wicked^  and  go  not  in  the  way  of 

evil  men.     Prov.  iv.  14. Your  fear  cometh  as  desolation,  and 

your  destruction  cometh  as  a  whirlwind.   Prov.  i.  27. How  they 

are  brought  into  a  desolation,  as  in  a  moment/  Psa.  Ixxiii.  19. 


The  heart  of  the  sons  of  men  is  full  of  evil,  and  madness  is  in 

their  heart.     Eccl.  ix.  3. A  deep  ditch,  a  strange  woman,  a  nar^ 

row  pit.     Prov.  xxiii.  27. They  would  none  of  my  counsel,  they 

despised  all  my  reproof     Therefore  shall  they  eat  of  the  fruit  of 
their  own  way»    Prov.  i.  80,  31. 


398        ROYAL  ROAD  TO  HAPPINESS;  OR 

are  in  the  most  dangeD.  So  far  o.therwise,  those  of 
forward  parts,  of  lively  imaginations,  and  strong  pas 
sions  withal,  are  in  peculiar  hazard  during  those  green 
years  in  which  is  the  critical  period  of  transition  from 
the  condition  of  boys  to  that  of  men.  The  very  qualities 
that  distinguish  and  place  them  above  their  fellows, 
diminish  the  likelihood  of  their  establishing  a  sober 
staidness  of  character,  and  oftentimes  are  the  means  of 
launching  them  into  the  rapid  stream  of  dissipation 
which  conveys  them  into  a  whirlpool  where  self-con- 
trol, reputation,  morals,  and  whatever  is  estimable  in 
human  beings,  are  all  engulfed  together. 

How  many  instances  do  the  perilous  times  we  live 
in  furnish — how  many  deplorable  instances  of  hopeful 
boys  abandoned  and  lost  in  their  teens  !  And  by  how 
much  more  their  parents  had  doted  upon  them,  by  so 
much  more  are  their  hearts  wrung  with  anguish. 

To  a  young  man  from  home,  friendless  and  forlorn 
in  a  great  city,  the  hours  of  peril  are  those  between 
sunset  and  bed-time.  This  is  the  deviVs  time  to  en- 
snare the  gentle-hearted  youth  who  is  thrown  upon 
the  rocks  of  a  pitiless  city  and  ^^  stands  homeless  amid 
a  thousand  homes."  Evening  brings  with  it  an  aching 
sense  of  loneliness  and  desolation,  and  his  natural 
impulses  become  a  snare  to  him  and  often  lead  him 
astray  because  he  is  social,  affectionate,  sympathetic 
and  warm-hearted.  The  theatres  are  open  to  him  with 
their  glare  and  music  and  their  panderings  to  his 
grossest  passions,  while  the  seductive  siren  stands 
ready  with  soft  words  and  smiling  eyes  to  lure  him  to 
the  downward  paths  which  lead  to  death  and  rotten- 
ness of  bones. 

Far  less  is  the  danger,  for  the  most  part,  while  the 
immature  youth  remains  under  the  parental  roof,  or 
in  "  the  well-ordered  home."  There  he  finds  it  not  so 
easy  to  shake  off  salutary  restraints;  there  he  feels 
some  respect  for  the  opinions  of  the  society  in  whose 
bosom  he  was  bom  and  educated,  some  reverence  for 


THE   PICTURE   PREACHER.  399 

parental  atithoritj,  and  some  regard  to  the  feelings  of 
near  kindred.  But  when  he  leaves  home,  he  often 
finds  in  his  new  situation  new  objects  to  lead  him 
astray,  and  at  the  same  time  feels  himself  loosened 
from  authority  and  influence  which  heretofore  re- 
pressed his  wayward  propensities ;  and  if  vicious,  but 
genteel  and  artful  companions,  get  the  first  hold  on 
him,  his  ruin  is  probably  sealed.  In  view  of  this,  the 
celebrated  poet  Cowper  writes  : 

**  My  boy,  the  unwelcome  hour  is  come 
When  thou,  transplanted  from  thy  genial  home, 
Must  find  a  colder  soil  and  bleaker  air, 
And  trust  for  safety  to  a  stranger's  care." 

It  IS  hard  to  mourn  over  the  deaths  but  it  is  some- 
times still  harder  to  mourn  over  the  life  of  a  beloved 
child.  When  loving  parents  see  the  one  whom  they 
expected  would  be  found  the  solace  of  their  old  age, 
the  honor  of  their  family,  and  an  ornament  to  society 
— when  they  see  him,  the  object  of  their  highest  hopes, 
turn  to  the  ways  of  folly ;  no  heart  but  a  heart  thus 
exercised  can  feel  the  full  sharpness  of  the  pang.  The 
best  that  parents  can  do  to  prevent  this  is  to  train  their 
children  in  habits  of  industry,  temperance,  and  order ; 
and  above  all  to  impress  upon  their  minds  a  deep  rev- 
erence for  the  Supreme  Being,  and  inculcate  the  prin- 
ciples of  religion  and  morality. 


THE  MASTER  AND  HIS  SCHOLAR. 

As  a  schoolmaster  was  walking  on  the  bank  of  a 
river,  not  far  from  his  school,  he  heard  a  cry  as  of  one 
in  distress ;  advancing  a  few  paces  further,  he  saw  one 
of  his  scholars  in  the  water  hanging  by  a  small  branch 
of  a  tree  which  projected  over  the  stream.  The  boy 
had  been  learning  to  swim  with  corks ;  and  now  think- 
ing himself  sufficiently  experienced,  had  thrown  them 


400 


KOYAL   EOAD   TO   HAPPINESS;    OR 


THE  MASTER  AND  HIS  SCHOLAR. 


I  wisdom  dwell  with  prudence  ....  Hear  instruction  and  he 

wise^  and  refuse  it  not.     Pro  v.  viii.  12,  33. Seest  thou  a  man 

wise  in  his  own  conceit;  there  is  more  hope  of  a  fool  than  of  him, 

Prov.  xxvL  12. The  prudent  man  looheth  tcell  to  his  going, 

Prov.   xiv.  15. Whoso  loveth  instruction  loveth  knowledge, 

Prov.  i.  1. — —Hear  counsel  and  receive  instructioHy  that  thou 
mayest  he  wise  in  thy  latter  end.    Prov.  xix,  20. 


THE    PICTURE    PREACHER.  401 

aside.     Having  neglected  to  make  any  proper  trial,  or 

Eroof  whether  or  not  he  could  swim  without  the  aid  of 
is  corks,  he  rashly  ventured  into  the  stream  without 
them.  The  stream  having  hurried  him  out  of  his  depth, 
and  he  would  certainly  have  been  drowned  had  not 
the  branch  of  a  tree,  which  grew  on  the  bank,  provi- 
dentially hung  in  his  way. 

The  master  took  up  the  corks,  which  lay  upon  the 
ground,  and  throwing  them  to  his  scholar,  made  use  of 
this  opportunity  to  read  a  lecture  to  him,  upon  the 
inconsiderate  rashness  of  youth.  *^  Let  this  be  an  exam- 
ple to  you,"  says  he,  ^4n  the  conduct  of  your  future 
life ;  never  to  throw  away  your  corks,  till  time  has 
given  you  strength  and  experience  enough  to  swim 
without  them," 

Application, — Some  people  are  so  vain  and  self- 
conceited,  that  they  will  run  themselves  into  a  thousand 
inconveniences,  rather  than  be  thought  to  want  assist- 
ance in  any  one  respect.  Now,  there  are  many  little 
helps  and  accommodations  in  life,  which  they  who 
launch  out  into  the  wide  ocean  of  the  world  ought  to 
make  use  of  as  supporters  to  raise  and  buoy  them  up, 
till  they  are  grown  strong  in  the  knowledge  of  men, 
and  sufficiently  versed  in  business  to  stem  the  tide  by 
themselves.  Yet  many,  like  the  child  in  the  fable, 
through  an  affectation  of  being  thought  able  and  expe- 
rienced,  undertake  affairs  which  are  too  big  for  them, 
and  venture  out  of  their  depth  before  they  find  their 
own  weakness  and  inability. 

Few  are  above  being  advised :  nor  are  we  ever  too 
old  to  learn  anything  which  we  may  be  the  better  for. 
But  young  men,  above  all,  should  not  disdain  to  open 
their  eyes  to  example,  and  their  ears  to  admonition. 
They  should  not  be  ashamed  to  furnish  themselves 
with  rules  for  their  behavior  in  the  world.  However 
mean  it  may  seem  to  use  such  helps,  yet  it  is  really 
dangerous  to  be  without  them. 


402  EOYAL   EOAD   TO    HAPPINESS;    OR 

BANQUETING  UPON  BORROWING. 

"  Be  not  made  a  beggar  by  banqueting  upon  borrowing,  when 
thou  hast  nothing  in  thy  purse." — Kccles,  xviii.  38. 

The  moral  philosopher  of  old  Jewry,  who  penned 
this  admirable  book,  is  practical  in  his  observations, 
and  at  the  same  time,  acute  and  discriminating.  He 
dips  not  into  the  incomprehensible  subtleties  of  abstract 
science,  relative  to  the  mysterious  frame  and  texture  of 
humanity,  but  describes  the  wonderful  creature  Man, 
such  as  he  is  shown  to  be  by  his  actions,  and  adapts 
his  moral  and  prudential  cautions  and  precepts  to  man 
as  he  is — to  his  condition  and  conduct  in  real  life. 

Whether  the  sage  had  himself  been  taken  in,  by 
some  of  them,  or  from  whatever  cause,  he  hits  off  cer- 
tain borrowers  of  his  own  time,  with  a  peculiar  keen- 
ness of  description,  in  the  passage  that  here  follows. 

^'  Many,  when  a  thing  was  lent  them  reckoned  it  to 
be  found,  and  put  them  to  trouble  that  helped  them. 
Till  he  hath  received,  he  will  kiss  a  man's  hand ;  for 
his  neighbor's  money  he  will  speak  submissively ;  but 
when  he  should  repay,  he  will  prolong  the  time,  and 
return  words  of  grief,  and  complain  of  the  time.  If  he 
prevail,  he  shall  hardly  receive  the  half,  and  shall  count 
as  if  he  had  found  it :  if  not,  he  hath  deprived  him  of 
his  money,  and  he  hath  gotten  him  an  enemy  without 
cause  :  he  payetli  him  with  cursings  and  railings ;  and 
for  honor  he  will  pay  him  disgrace." 

The  sage  next  proceeds  to  relate  how  the  aforesaid 
conduct  of  some  certain  borrowers  went  to  discourage 
all  liberality  in  lending.  ''-  Many  therefore  have  refused 
to  lend  for  other  men's  ill-dealing,  fearing  to  be 
defrauded," 

And  here  one  might  amuse  himself  not  a  little  with 
comparing  the  past  with  the  present — things  relative 
to  borrowing  and  lending,  as  they  stood  some  thousand 
years  ago,  Avith  what  they  are  now-a-days,  in  tliis 
goodly  country  of  ours. 


THE   PICTURE   PEEACHEE.  403 

But  to  proceed :  our  venerable  author  is  not  as  a 
cold-blooded  satirist,  who  rather  labors  to  excite  the 
feeling  of  scorn  and  hatred,  than  of  compassion.  He 
gives,  on  the  contrary,  no  countenance  to  covetous 
hoarding;  much  less  to  griping  extortion.  He  saith 
not,  ^^  Since  things  are  so,  it  is  best  to  trust  nobody." 
No.  So  far  was  this  ungracious  sentiment  from  his 
heart,  he  warmly  inculcates  a  noble  liberality,  a  disin- 
terested benevolence.  For,  after  having  observed  as 
above,  that  many  refused  to  lend  for  other  merUs  ill-deal^ 
ing,  fearing  to  he  defrauded^  he  immediately  adds,  **Yet 
have  thou  patience  with  a  man  in  poor  estate,  and 
delay  not  to  shew  him  mercy.  Help  the  poor  for  the 
commandment's  sake,  and  turn  him  not  away  because 
of  his  poverty.  Lose  thy  money  for  thy  brother  and  thy 
friend,  and  let  it  not  rust  under  a  stone  to  be  lost "  Again, 
in  the  same  chapter  he  says,  *^He  that  is  merciful  will 
lend  unto  his  neighbor."  *^  Lend  to  thy  neighbor  in 
the  time  of  his  need."  And  elsewhere,  he  cautions 
against  a  churlishness  of  expression  and  manner  in  the 
act  of  giving,  and,  by  parity  of  reason,  in  lending. 
'^My  son,  blemish  not  thy  good  deeds,  neither  use 
uncomfortable  words  when  thou  givest."  All  which  is 
accompanied  with  this  wholesome  injunction  to  the 
other  party.  '*Pay  thou  thy  neighbor  again  in  due 
season.  Keep  thy  word,  and  deal  faithfully  with  him, 
and  thou  shalt  always  find  the  thing  that  is  necessary 
for  thee." 

Upon  the  whole,  then,  it  may  be  fairly  concluded 
that  the  precious  book  now  under  consideration — 
which  indeed  possesses  every  venerable  attribute,  with 
the  exception  of  inspiration  alone — is  very  far  from 
altogether  discouraging  the  neighborly  intercourse  of 
borrowing  and  lending;  seeing  the  scope  of  its  lessons 
on  this  subject  is  to  recommend  moderation  and  scru- 
pulous punctuality  to  the  one  class,  and  a  humane  and 
generous  line  of  conduct  to  the  other. 

One  may  borrow  occasionally,  and  be  the  better  for 


404        ROYAL  EOAD  TO  HAPPINESS;  OR 

it,  and  at  the  same  time  the  lender  suffers  no  injury  or 
inconvenience:  but  to  banquet  upon  borrowing,  is  a 
beggarly  way  of  living.  If  thou  hast  nothing  in  thy 
purse,  replenish  it,  if  possible,  with  thy  own  earnings, 
rather  than  by  borrowing;  or  if  that  be  impossible  for 
the  present,  yet  be  cautious  against  taking  more  than 
is  needful,  and  ever  be  careful  to  pay  it  back  in  due 
time.  For — to  repeat  the  admonition  before  cited — 
*^Pay  thou  thy  neighbor  again  in  due  season.  Keep 
thy  word,  and  deal  faithfully  with  him,  and  thou  shalt 
always  find  the  thing  that  is  necessary  for  thee." 

I  entreat  the  reader's  particular  attention  to  the  mat- 
ter which  I  have  just  now  rehearsed,  since  it  comes 
from  no  ordinary  authority,  and  is  of  superior  excel- 
lence in  itself.  For  the  rest ;  the  few  observations  that 
will  follow,  must  suffice. 

In  this  sense  of  the  term,  one  who  borrows,  contracts 
a  debt,  with  respect  to  which  every  principle  of  hon- 
esty and  honor  binds  him  to  observe  the  utmost  punct- 
uality. For,  the  lender  gives  up  the  use  of  his  prop- 
erty without  fee  or  reward.  All  he  demands  or  expects 
is,  that  the  thing  be  returned  in  good  condition,  and 
punctually,  according  to  promise.  Wherefore,  a  loan 
is  a  sort  of  sacred  debt ;  and  to  delay  payment, — ^much 
more  never  to  pay,  though  there  be  no  want  of  power, 
is  returning  evil  for  good,  injury  for  kindness.  Would 
that  this  vexatious  frailty  of  character  were  rare  as  it  is 
common !  And,  in  order  to  a  radical  reform  in  this 
important  particular,  much  attention  must  be  paid  to  it 
in  the  early  season  of  education.  It  is  a  great  deal 
easier  to  form  the  young  mind  to  correct  habits,  than 
to  cure  it  of  bad  ones  once  contracted.  For  which  rea- 
son, children  should  be  carefully  taught  to  mind  their 
promises,  and  more  especially  to  restore  whatever  they 
borrow,  in  good  condition  and  by  the  set  time.  This 
must  be  worked  into  their  habits  from  their  very  ear- 
liest years. 

Finally,  there  are  persons  who  may  be  called  leeches 


THE   PICTURE   PREACHEB.  405 

or  sponges — ^persons  who  out  of  pure  stinginess  are  in 
the  habit  of  borrowing  of  their  neighbors,  the  neces- 
sary implements  of  their  daily  business.  They  think  it 
clieaper  to  borrow  than  to  buy.  But  generally  in  the 
long  run  they  are  losers  by  it  themselves ;  and  the 
meanwhile  they  are  giving  a  deal  of  trouble  to  those 
'about  them,  whose  smothered  resentments  and  inly 
scoldings  are  neither  few  nor  small. 

Those  who  borrow  and  never  are  able  to  make  a 
return,  often  get  into  that  condition  of  mind  as  to  ren- 
der the  lender  a  disagreeable  subject  of  thought.  This 
truth  is  illustrated  by  an  anecdote  of  a  gentleman  who 
suddenly  became  depressed  in  his  pecuniary  circum- 
stances, and  on  applying  for  a  loan  of  a  few  hundreds 
from  a  wealthy  gentleman,  received  the  unexpected 
reply,  *^You  and  I  now  are  excellent  friends.  If  I 
lend  you  the  money  which  I  can  do  with  perfect  con- 
venience to  myself,  you  will  never  be  able  to  repay 
me.  As  a  consequence,  you  are  such  a  sensitive 
man,  that  every  time  you  see  me  you  will  be  unhappy, 
and  so  you  will  avoid  me.  It  will  thus  break  friend- 
ship between  us.  I  value  your  friendship  too  highly 
to  lend  you  money,  so  I  tell  you  plainly  you  can't 
have  it.  Go  and  borrow  of  somebody  that  don't  think 
ds  much  of  you  as  I  do." 


MANNER  OF  GIVING  REPROOF. 

To  exasperate  is  not  the  way  to  convince ;  nor  does 
asperity  of  language  or  manner  belong  to  the  duty  of 
plain  deahng.  So  far  otherwise,  a  scolding  preacher, 
or  a  snarling  reprover,  betrays  alike  a  gross  ignorance 
of  the  philosophy  of  the  human  mind,  and  the  absence 
of  Christian  meekness;  and  however  zealous  be  his 
aim  to  do  good,  his  provoking  manner  will  defeat  the 
benevolence  of  his  intentions.  "  Give  hard  facts  with 
soft  words,"  is  the  advice  of  wisdom  in  every  case. 


406 


EOYAL   ROAD   TO   HAPPINESS;   OR 


MANNEE  OF  GIVING  KEPROOF. 


Let  the  righteous  smite  me  and  it  shall  he  a  kindness^  and  let 

him  reprove  me^  it  shall  he  an  excellent  oil.     Psa.  cxli.  5. A 

time  to  keep  silence  and  a  time  to  speak,     Eccl.  iii.  7. But 

speaking  the  truth  in  love.     Eph.  iv.  15. He  that  refuseth  in- 
struction despiseth  his  own  soid,  hut  he  that  heareih  reproof  getteth 

understanding.     Prov.  xv.  32. As  sheep  among  wolves;  he  ye 

therefore  wise  as  serpents^  and  harmless  as  doves.    Matt.  x.  16. 

A  reproof  entereth  more  into  a  wise  man  than  an  hundred  stripes 
into  a  fool.     Prov.  xvii.  10. 


THE   PICTURE    PREACHER.  407 

"  No  man"  writes  Cowper,  **  was  ever  scolded  out  of 
his  sins.  The  heart,  corrupt  as  it  is,  and  because  it  is 
so,  grows  angry  if  it  be  not  treated  with  some  manage- 
ment and  good  manners,  and  scolds  again.  A  surly- 
mastiff  will  bear  perhaps  to  be  stroked,  though  he  will 
growl  under  that  operation,  but  if  you  touch  him 
roughly  he  w411  bite.  There  is  no  grace  that  the  spirit 
of  self  can  counterfeit  with  more  success  than  that  of 
zeal.  A  man  thinks  he  is  fighting  for  God,  when  he  is 
fighting  for  his  own  notions.  He  thinks  that  he  is  skill- 
fully searching  the  hearts  of  others,  when  he  is  only 
gratifying  the  malignity  of  his  own;  and  charitably 
supposes  his  hearers  destitute  of  all  grace,  that  he  may 
shine  the  more  in  his  own  eyes  by  comparison," 

Nor  is  either  scolding  or  ridicule  the  proper  way  to 
cure  men  of  their  prejudices ;  for  by  inflaming  their 
anger,  it  renders  their  prejudices  the  more  stubborn 
and  inveterate.  It  is  no  matter  how  absurd,  or  even 
how  monstrous,  their  errors  be ;  if  you  offend  them  by 
the  grossness  of  your  manner,  there  is  little  hope  of 
your  convincing  them  afterward  by  the  cogency  of 
your  reasoning. 

Manner  is  to  be  carefully  studied  by  every  one, 
whether  in  a  public  or  a  private  station,  who  imder- 
takes  to  reclaim  the  vicious,  or  convince  the  erring : 
for  what  would  be  beneficial  if  done  in  one  manner, 
would  be  worse  than  labor  lost  if  done  in  another.  A 
haughty,  supercilious  manner  never  wins,  seldom  coht 
vinces,  and  always  disgusts :  whereas  that  which  indi- 
cates meekness  and  un mingled  benevolence  and  com- 
passion, rarely  fails  of  some  salutary  impression ;  espe- 
cially if.  suavity  of  manner  be  accompanied  with  force 
of  reasoning,  and  a  due  regard  be  had  to  time,  place 
and  circumstances. 

Many  years  since,  an  eminent  American  clergyman 
was  crossing  a  river  in  a  ferry  boat  along  with  a  com- 
pany of  distinction,  among  which  was  a  military  offi- 
cer,  who  repeatedly  made  use  of  profane  language. 


408        ROYAL  ROAD  TO  HAPPINESS;  OR 

The  clergyman  continued  silent  till  they  had  landed, 
when  asking  him  aside,  he  expostulated  with  him  in 
such  a  moving  manner,  that  the  officer  expressed  his 
thanks,  and  his  deep  sorrow  for  his  offence ;  but  added 
withal,  "7/  you  had  reproved  me  hefore  the  company^  I 
should  have  drawn  my  sword  upon  youP  The  two  fol- 
lowing instances  are  here  given  to  illustrate  the  impor- 
tance of  showing  a  right  spirit  when  we  undertake  to 
reprove  or  correct  others  : 

A  Boy  Reproves  his  Mistress. 

A  boy  in  one  of  our  country  places  in  Connecticut, 
lived  in  a  family,  the  master  and  mistress  of  which 
were  professing  Christians,  and  persons  of  the  highest 
respectability.  The  boy  himself  was  a  member  of  the 
same  church  with  them,  one  of  the  duties  of  which  was 
to  watch  over  one  another,  and  to  tell  each  of  what 
they  thought  to  be  wrong  in  t'heir  conduct. 

The  mistress  having  been  invited  to  visit  a  fashiona- 
ble place  in  the  vicinity,  purchased  for  the  occasion  an 
elegant  and  expensive  shawl.  She  was  herself  a  lady 
of  extraordinary  beauty,  and  naturally  wished  to  make 
a  sensation. 

The  boy  had  adopted  the  Quaker  or  Friends'  views 
upon  the  simplicity  of  apparel ;  and  this  fact  in  regard 
to  the  shawl  coming  to  his  knowledge,  he  felt  it  his 
duty  to  give  her  a  reproof  for  her  extravagance.  He 
was  naturally  somewhat  diffident  and  modest  so  that 
to  do  it  by  word  of  mouth  was  rather  beyond  his 
strength  of  natural  courage.  He  therefore  wrote  in  bil- 
let what  he  wished  to  say,  and  Avhen  she  was  alone 
handed  it  to  her  in  a  respectful  and  humble  manner,  as 
is  shown  in  the  background  of  the  annexed  engraving. 
She  glanced  over  the  contents,  and  was  at  once  deeply 
affected.  Her  good  common  sense,  and  natural 
strength  of  character  were  equal  to  her  beauty,  for  she 
was  a  superior  lady  every  way.  She  at  once  thanked 
the  boy,  and  immediately  retired.      She  thoroughly 


THE   PICTURE   PKEACHER.  409 

appreciated  his  motive,  and  well  knew  what  a  struggle 
it  must  have  been  for  a  lad  of  his  timid,  shrinking 
nature  to  have  performed  such  an  act.  She  received  it 
in  a  meek.  Christian  spirit,  and  not  only  gave  up  her 
contemplated  visit,  but  never  exhibited  the  costly  gar- 
ment Her  boy  reprover  won  by  it  her  most  profound 
respect,  and  to  her  dying  day  she  never  failed  to  speak 
of  him  but  with  the  highest  regard  and  affection. 

The  Country  Schoolmaster  and  Young  Lady  Scholar. 

The  following  somewhat  romantic  anecdote  was  pub- 
lished more  than  sixty  years  ago,  at  which  time  corpo- 
real punishment  was  often  resorted  to  for  even  the  older 
pupils  in  the  schools : 

A  schoolmaster  in  one  of  our  Western  States,  who 
had  met  with  great  success  in  the  male  department  of 
several  different  high  schools,  was  employed  as  a 
teacher  of  both  sexes  in  a  country  village.  He  was  a 
bachelor,  and  extremely  bashful,  especially  when  in 
the  presence  of  the  older  female  scholars.     Miss  Alice 

,  one  of  his  pupils,  a  girl  of  about  15  years,  but 

very  large  of  her  age,  and  well  developed  into  woman- 
hood, was  one  of  the  most  mischievous  and  fun-loving 
of  her  sex.  Her  irresistible  propensity  was  to  make 
sport  for  her  companions,  even  if  it  was  at  the  expense 
of  others. 

When  Miss  Alice  first  saw  the  new  teacher  she  at 
once  perceived  he  was  admirably  adapted  to  be  teased. 
His  unsophisticated  manners  and  innocent  appearance 
stimulated  her  mischievous  propensities  to  the  utmost. 
Her  operations  at  first  were  performed  in  a  sly  man- 
ner, but  he  soon  discovered  that  she  was  at  the  bottom 
of  most  of  the  mischief  practiced  in  the  school. 

One  of  her  favorite  methods  of  harassing  her  teacher, 
who  was  near-sighted,  and  not  very  attractive  in  his 
looks,  but  very  kind-hearted,  was  to  approach  him  in 
his  seat,  under  the  pretence  of  obtaining  instruction, 
when  she  would  bend  over  him  in  a  most  affectionate 

18 


410  EOYAL   ROAD   TO   HAPPINESS;    OR 

manner,  and  then  gaze  into  his  face  with  an  expression 
full  of  ardent  love.  These  sham  proceedings  annoyed 
the  teacher,  but  delighted  the  other  scholars  beyond 
measure. 

Having  grown  careless  by  long  impunity,  Miss  Alice 
was  caught  breaking  one  of  the  laws  of  the  school,  the 
penalty  for  which  was  ^^ruleringj^  The  teacher  would 
have  given  much  to  have  avoided  the  infliction  of  the 
punishment  upon  a  girl.  Smilingly  she  held  out  her 
hand,  and  as  soon  as  the  blows  were  ended,  she  at  once 
threw  her  arms  around  his  neck  and  kissed  him, 
exclaiming  '^I  always  return  a  kiss  for  a  Now,  for  thus 
my  mother  taught  me ;"  and  then  deliberately  walked 
back  to  her  seat.  The  poor  man  was  terribly  confused, 
looking  as  though  he  wished  the  floor  might  open 
beneath,  and  he  could  sink  out  of  sight  of  the  scholars 
who  witnessed  the  scene.  But  the  cuj)  of  his  misery 
was  not  yet  full. 

It  was  given  out  as  an  imperative  law  of  the  school, 
that  whoever  was  seen  in  the  adjoining  orchard  steal- 
ing apples  from  the  trees  should  be  thoroughly  flog- 
ged. This  law  was  made  to  prevent  unruly  boys  from 
taking  the  fruit.  To  the  astonishment  of  all,  the  mis- 
chievous girl,  after  climbing  over  the  fence,  got  up 
into  an  apple  tree,  when  she  picked  off  the  fruit  and 
tossed  it  to  the  boys  below. 

The  schoolmaster,  who  saw  her,  was  in  a  trying 
dilemma.  There  was  no  escape  from  his  duty;  but 
the  idea  of  being  called  ^^a  woman  whipper"  was  very 
distasteful.  It  was  his  custom  to  flog  culprits  at  the 
forenoon  recess.  When  he  notified  Miss  Alice  that  she 
would  remain  at  the  recess,  the  other  scholars  chuckled 
with  glee.  The  girl  herself  blushed,  the  fact  of  being 
regularly  whipped  by  her  schoolmaster  for  disobe- 
dience of  orders  was  much  against  her. 

When  the  recess  came,  the  girl  was  left  alone  with 
her  teacher.  The  excitement  in  the  play  ground  was 
great,   and  many  doubted  whether  such  a  kind  and 


THE    PICTURE    PREACHER.  411 

gentle  man  as'  he  was,  could  ever  whip  a  young  woman. 
One  enterprising  boy,  prompted  by  his  curiosity, 
climbed  the  lightning  rod,  and  looked  in  at  the  win- 
dow, to  see  if  the  punishment  really  took  place.  He 
reported  that  he  saw  nothing  of  the  kind,  but  that  the 
parties  appeared  reconciled  to  each  other.  Gentleness 
and  love  had  evidently  gained  the  victory.  The  young 
woman,  wayward  as  she  was,  had  felt  that  her  teacher 
was  governed  by  a  sense  of  duty,  and  would  perform 
it  at  whatever  cost. 

The  boy,  who  was  unseen  by  them,  reported  the 
conversation  which  he  overheard.  In  the  beginning  of 
it  the  teacher  said,  *^  Alice,  bad  as  you  are,  I  had  rather 
marry  than  to  whip  you."  To  which  Alice  replied, 
*^  It  is  the  same  with  me, — I  had  rather  many,  and  if 
you  say  marry,  Fm  with  you."  She  doubtless  felt  that 
her  dearest  interests  would  be  safe  in  his  hands.  The 
marriage  soon  took  place !  and  those  acquainted  with 
the  circumstances  say  the  teacher  was  considered  as 
having  been  uncommonly  fortunate  in  having  secured 
such  a  companion  for  his  life,  as  his  scholar  proved  to  be. 


THE   SPIRITUAL  AND  THE   MATERIAL 
HEART. 

"  Thine  own  things,  and  such  as  are  grown  up  with  thee,  thou 
canst  not  know." 

To  obtain  conviction  of  the  truth  of  this  observa- 
tion of  Esdras  the  Jewish  sage,  we  need  look  only  to 
that  part  of  our  own  system  called  the  heart.  Both 
the  material  and  the  moral  heart  of  man  are  of  mys- 
terious and  wonderful  construction ;  too  deep  to  be 
fathomed  by  the  line  of  philosophy,  and  too  intricate 
to  be  explored  by  human  ken. 

In  regard  to  the  material  heart,  as  stated  in  KeiPs 
Anatomy,  **each  ventricle  of  the  heart  will  at  least 
contain  one  ounce  of  blood.     The  heart  contracts  four 


412        ROYAL  ROAD  TO  HAPPINESS;  OR 

thousand  times  in  one  hour :  from  which  it  follows,  that 
there  passes  through  the  heart,  every  hour,  four  thou- 
sand ounces,  or  three  hundred  and  fifty  pounds  of 
blood.  Now  the  whole  mass  of  blood  (in  a  common- 
sized  human  body)  is  said  to  be  about  twenty-five 
pounds ;  so  that  a  quantity  of  blood  equal  to  the  whole 
mass  of  blood  passes  through  the  heart  fourteen  times 
in  one  hour ;  which  is  about  once  in  every  four  min- 
utes." 

Dr.  Paley,  upon  this  stupendous  subject,  says,  '^  The 
heart  is  so  complex  in  its  mechanism,  so  delicate  in 
many  of  its  parts,  as  seeming-ly  to  be  little  durable, 
and  always  liable  to  derangement:  yet  shall  this  won- 
derful machine  go,  night  and  day,  for  eighty  years 
together,  at  the  rate  of  a  hundred  thousand  strokes 
every  twenty -four  hours,  having,  at  every  stroke,  a 
great  resistance  to  overcome ;  and  shall  continue  this 
action  this  length  of  time,  without  disorder,  and  with- 
out weariness." 

It  is  a  fact  worthy  of  notice,  that  in  this  wonderful 
piece  of  mechanism  there  is  as  it  were  the  power  of 
repelling  the  meddlesome  eye  of  curiosity;  since, 
while  we  are  in  sound  health,  the  mighty  labor  that  is 
perpetually  going  on  in  the  little  laboratory  within 
gives  us  no  sort  of  disquietude,  so  long  as  we  pay  no 
close  attention  to  the  process ;  but  no  sooner  does  one 
contemplate  it  with  close  and  undivided  attention,  than 
unpleasant  and  almost  insupportable  sensations  check 
his  impertinent  inquisitiveness.  Perhaps  no  one  living 
would  be  able  to  fix  his  whole  mind  for  the  space  of  a 
single  minute  upon  the  pulsations  of  his  own  heart, 
without  experiencing  sensations  of  undescribable  unea- 
siness. 

Nor  is  the  moral  heart  of  man  less  wonderful.  It  is 
remarkable  that  this  too,  as  well  as  the  material  or 
natural  heart,  is  repulsive  to  careful  and  strict  scrutiny. 
It  is  one  of  the  most  difficult  of  performances  for  one 
to  scrutinize  the  moral  frame  and  operations  of  one's 


THE    PICTURE    PREACHER.  413 

own  heart  with  a  steadfast  and  hnpartial  eye;  the 
difficulty  principally  consisting  in  a  violent  aversion  to 
that  kind  of  scrutiny  and  the  irksomeness  of  the  pro- 
cess. And  hence  it  is,  that  a  great  many  persons 
know  less  of  their  own  hearts,  considered  in  a  moral 
point  of  view,  than  of  anything  else  with  which  they 
are  in  a  considerable  degree  conversant.  Partial  as 
we  always  are  to  our  own  understandings  and  our 
intellectual  powers  in  general,  we  judge  of  them  with 
a  great  deal  more  uprightness  and  truth,  than  we  do  of 
our  hearts.  The  defects  of  the  former  we  perceive, 
and  own ;  but  those  of  the  latter  we  conceal  as  much 
as  possible,  not  only  from  others,  but  from  ourselves ; 
and  are  mightily  offended  when  the  finger  even  of  a 
friend  points  them  out  to  us. 

As  the  heaii  is  the  source  of  the  affections  and  the 
volitions,  so  it  is  the  seat  of  all  real  beauty  and  of  all 
real  deformity  belonging  to  man  or  woman.  By  its 
qualities,  and  by  no  standard  else,  is  the  worth  or  the 
vileness  of  every  human  character  to  be  determined. 
No  splendor  of  talent,  no  brilliancy  of  action  even  on 
virtue's  side,  can  countervail  the  want  of  rightness  of 
heart.  Hence,  while  we  are  bound  to  judge  others  to 
be  virtuous,  in  so  far  as  they  appear,  from  the  tenor  of 
their  overt  acts ;  we  must  look  deeper,  far  deeper,  in 
forming  a  judgment  upon  ourselves. 

In  choosing  a  wife,  a  husband,  or  any  familiar  and 
bosom  friend,  the  very  first  consideration  is  to  be  had 
to  the  qualities  of  the  heart ;  for  if  those  be  vile,  no 
intellectual  excellence  can  give  promise  of  good.  A 
man,  or  a  woman,  either  bad-hearted  or  heartless ,  how- 
ever gifted  with  intellect  or  furnished  with  accomplish- 
ments, is  not  one  that  will  brighten  the  chain  of 
friendship,  or  smooth  the  path  of  life. 

The  heart  that  gravitates  the  wrong  way,  draws  the 
imderstanding  along  with  it ;  blinding,  perverting,  and 
duping  that  noble  faculty;  so  that  it  judges  of  the 
thing,  not  according  to  what  it  really  is,  but  according 


414  ROYAL   ROAD   TO   HAPPINESS;   OR 

to  the  feeling  and  inclination  of  its  treacherous  adviser. 
This  makes  it  so  difficult  for  one  to  determine  right  in 
one's  own  cause. 

It  is  no  less  melancholy  than  true,  that,  in  general, 
we  take  infinitely  less  pains  to  improve  our  hearts  than 
to  improve  our  understandings.  Yet  no  point  is  clearer, 
than  that  the  improvement  of  the  intellectual  faculties 
can  turn  to  no  good  account,  without  a  corresponding 
improvement  of  the  moral  faculties. 

The  vast  superiority  of  the  Christian  morality  over 
the  best  part  of  the  morality  of  the  wisest  pagans,  con- 
sists very  materially  in  this,  that  the  former  embraces 
the  views,  motives  and  feelings  of  the  heart,  whereas 
the  latter  regards  the  outward  act  only.  Socrates 
taught  some  things  excellent  in  themselves,  but  his 
system  reached  only  the  surface  of  morality.  It  was 
for  the  Divine  Teacher  alone,  to  inculcate  moral  duties 
upon  true  principles,  by  prescribing  the  cleansing  of 
the  fountain,  as  not  only  the  best  and  the  shortest,  but 
as  the  only  way  effectually  and  permanently  to  purify 
the  streams  of  moral  life. 

A  word  on  sensibility.  No  quality,  especially  in 
female  character,  is  so  much  praised,  admired,  and 
loved;  and,  for  that  reason,  no  quality  is  so  often 
counterfeited.  And  what  is  it?  Not  the  susceptible 
temperament,  which  feels  only  for  self  or  for  one's  own 
— not  that  sickly  sensibility,  which  so  enervates  the. 
mind  that  it  yields  to  even  the  lightest  wind  of  advers- 
ity— not  that  mock-sensibility,  which  weeps  over  a 
fictitious  tale  of  woe,  but  has  no  sympathy  for  the 
real  woes  of  life.  No.  Genuine  sensibility — that 
sensibility  which  is  indeed  so  estimable  and  lovely — 
is  a  moral  quality ;  of  which  it  would  be  difficult  to 
find  a  better  definition  than  is  given  in  the  following 
admirable  lines  of  the  poet  Gray. 

"  Teach  me  to  love  and  to  forgive ; 
Exact  my  own  defects  to  scan ; 
What  others  are  to  feel ;  and  know  myself  a  man,'*'* 


THE    PICTURE    PREACHER.  415 

THE  BOY  THAT  STOLE  APPLES. 

An  old  man  found  a  rude  boy  upon  one  of  his  trees 
stealing  apples,  desired  liim  to  come  down  ;  but  the 
young  sauce-box  told  him  plainly  he  would  not. 
*^  Won't  you?"  said  the  old  man,  *^  then  I  will  fetch 
you  down."  So  he  pulled  up  some  tufts  of  grass  and 
threw  at  him ;  but  this  only  made  the  youngster  laugh 
to  think  the  old  man  should  pretend  to  beat  him  down 
from  the  tree  with  grass  only. 

^^Well,  well,"  said  the  old  man,  ^4f  neither  words 
nor  grass  will  do,  I  must  try  what  virtue  there  is  in 
stones :"  so  the  old  man  pelted  him  heartily  with  stones, 
which  soon  made  the  young  chap  hasten  down  from 
the  tree  and  beg  the  old  man's  pardon. 

Moral. — If  good  words  and  gentle  means  will  not 
reclaim  the  wicked,  they  must  be  dealt  with  in  a  more 
severe  manner. 

The  above  fable,  as  it  is  called,  is  in  the  form  in 
which  it  first  appeared  in  the  American  Spelling  Book 
by  Noah  Webster,  the  author  of  the  great  American 
dictionary  of  the  English  language.  It  is  intended  to 
show  the  necessity  of  sometimes  using  severe  meas- 
ures to  stop  the  progress  of  evil.  Such  is  the  general 
perversity  of  mankind,  that  peace  and  security  could 
not  exist,  unless  the  ^^  terror  of  the  law"  was  sometimes 
exhibited.  For  the  security  of  the  whole,  govern- 
ments are  established  and  rulers  appointed,  and  the 
power  given  them  to  enforce  righteous  laws,  and  pun- 
ish transgressors  so  that  they  bear  not  the  sword  in 
vain,  and  are  indeed  ^^  a  terror  to  evil  doers." 

It  is  however  to  be  observed  that  it  is  always  well 
to  try  mild  measures  with  offenders  at  first,  as  many  a 
hard  and  apparently  unfeeling  man  may  be  won  over 
to  the  truth  by  kindness  and  love,  when  nothing  else 
would  move  him :  if  this  course  avails  nothing,  then  it 
is  time  to  try  something  else. 

While  the  boy  received  proper  punishment  from  the 


416 


ROYAL   ROAD    TO   HAPPINESS;    OR 


THE  BOY  THAT  STOLE  APPLES. 


The  mouth  of  the 
The  triumphing 


Thou  shalt  not  steal,     Exod.  xx.  15. — 
wicked  speaketh  frowardness.     Prov.  x.  32. 

of  the  wicked  is  short.     Job  xx.  5. His  mischief  shall  return 

upon  his  own  head,     Psa.  vii.  16. Whosoever  will  not  do  the 

laio  ....  let  judgment  be  executed  speedily  upon  him.     Ezra  vii. 

26. When  the  scomer  is  punished^  the  simple  is  made  wise. 

Prov.  XXL  11. 


THE   PICTURE   PREACHER.  417 

old  man  for  his  act  of  theft,  still  there  was  a  more 
excellent  way  for  the  latter  to  have  adopted  by  which 
the  boy  might  have  been  thoroug-hly  and  for  all  time 
reclaimed.  This  is  illustrated  by  the  Scriptural  inci- 
dent which  will  be  brought  to  the  mind  of  the  reader 
by  the  quotation : 

"  Let  bim  that  is  without  sin  cast  the  first  stone,^^ 

The  Ohio  Boy  that  stole  Apples. 

We  farther  illustrate  it  by  an  anecdote  given  by  that 
most  excellent,  kind  man,  the  late  Dr.  S.  P.  Hildreth,  in 
his  memoirs  of  the  early  pioneers  at  Marietta,  Ohio. 
In  that  work  he  relates  the  following  anecdote  of  Dr. 
Jabez  True,  a  surgeon  in  the  Revolutionary  war  and 
one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Marietta. 

The  doctor  was  a  lover  of  fine  fruit  and  had  culti- 
vated with  much  care,  some  of  the  choicest  varieties  of 
apples  and  pears,  in  a  small  garden  near  his  house. 
Among  them  was  a  tree  of  the  richest  kind  of  summer 
sweeting  apples,  to  which  the  boys  paid  daily  visits 
whenever  the  doctor  was  well  out  of  the  way. 

James  Glover,  then  a  stout  boy  of  about  fourteen 
years  of  age,  hearing  the  other  boys  speak  of  the  fine 
apples  in  the  doctor's  garden,  concluded  he  would  also 
try  them.  So  one  night  a  little  after  bed-time,  he 
mounted  the  tree,  and  began  filling  his  bosom  and 
pockets  with  the  fruit.  Making  a  rustling  in  the 
branches  the  doctor  happened  to  hear  him,  and  coming 
out  into  the  garden,  peering  up  into  the  trees,  he 
espied  James  and  hailed  him.  James  was  obliged  to 
answer  and  give  his  name. 

^^Ah!  James  is  that  you?"  he  exclaimed.  Why, 
you  are  in  the  wrong  tree : — that  is  not  the  summer 
sweeting.     Come  down,  come  down,  my  lad." 

This  was  indeed  the  fact,  but  in  his  huiTy  he  had 
not  yet  made  the  discovery  of  his  mistake.  James 
came  down  very  slowly,  expecting  rough  treatment, 

18* 


418  ROYAL   ROAD    TO    HAPPINESS;    OR 

and  the  kind  language  of  the  doctor  only  a  ruse  to  get 
him  within  his  reach.  But  he  was  very  pleasantly  dis- 
appointed. Instead  of  using  harsh  words,  or  beating 
the  aggressor,  as  most  men  would  have  done,  he  took 
a  long  pole  and  beat  off  as  many  apples  as  he  could 
carry,  and  dismissed  him  with  the  request  that  when 
he  wanted  any  more  to  call  on  him  and  he  would  assist 
him  in  getting  them.  James,  however,  never  visited 
the  tree  again  and  did  all  in  his  power  to  persuade  the 
other  boys  not  to  do  so. 


,THE  EAGLE  AND  THE  FOX. 

An  eagle  that  had  young  ones,  looking  out  for  some- 
thing to  feed  them  with,  happened  to  spy  a  fox's  cub,  that 
lay  basking  itself  abroad  in  the  sun.  She  made  a 
stoop,  and  trussed  it  immediately;  but  before  she  had 
carried  it  quite  off,  the  old  fox  coming  home,  implored 
her  with  tears  in  her  eyes,  to  spare  her  cub  and  pity 
the  distress  of  a  poor  fond  mother,  who  should  think 
no  affliction  so  great  as  that  of  losing  her  child. 

The  eagle,  whose  nest  was  up  in  a  very  high  tree, 
thought  herself  secure  enough  against  all  projects  of 
revenge,  and  so  bore  away  the  cub  to  her  young  ones, 
without  showing  any  regard  to  the  supplication  of  the 
fox.  But  that  subtle  creatm-e,  highly  incensed  at  this 
outrageous  barbarity,  ran  to  an  altar  where  some 
country  people  had  been  sacrificing  a  kid  in  the  open 
fields,  and  catching  up  a  firebrand  in  her  mouth,  made 
towards  the  tree  where  the  eagle's  nest  was,  with  a 
resolution  of  revenge.  She  had  scarce  ascended  the 
first  branches,  when  the  eagle,  terrified  with  the  ap- 
proaching ruin  of  herself  and  family,  begged  of  the 
fox  to  desist,  and  with  much  submission,  returned  her 
the  cub  again,  safe  and  sound. 

Application. — This  fable  is  a  warning  to  us  not  to 
deal  hardly  or  injuriously  by  anybody.     The  consid- 


THE  PICTURE   PKEACHEK. 


419 


Oppir^ssion  ^feViolence, 

BTin0  Danger  <^  Vengeance,^ 


THE  EAGLE  AND  THE  FOX. 


Hob  not  the  poor  because  he  is  poor;  ji either  oppress  the  afflicted 
in  the  ff  ate;  for  the  Lord  will  plead  their  cause^  and  spoil  the  soul  of 

those  that  spoiled  them.    Pro  v.  xxii.  22,  23. The  Lord  exe- 

cuteth  righteousness  and  Judgment  for  all  the  oppressed.     Psa.  ciii. 

7. Sis  mischief  shall  return  vpon  his  own  head,  and  his  vio- 

lent  dealings  shall  come  down  on  his  own  pate*    Psa.  viL  16. 


420  BOYAL   ROAD   TO   HAPPINESS;   OR 

eration  of  our  being"  in  a  high  condition  of  life,  and 
those  we  hurt  far  below  us,  will  plead  little  or  no 
excuse  for  us  in  this  case.  For  there  is  scarce  a 
creature  of  so  despicable  a  rank,  but  is  capable  of 
avenging  itself  some  way,  and  at  some  time  or  other. 

When  great  men  happen  to  be  wicked,  how  little 
scruple  do  they  make  of  oppressing  their  poor  neigh- 
bors !  they  are  perched  upon  a  lofty  station,  and  have 
built  their  nest  on  high;  and,  having  outgrown  all 
feelings  of  humanity,  are  insensible  of  any  pangs  of 
remorse.  The  widow's  tears,  the  orphan's  cries,  and 
the  curses  of  the  miserable,  like  the  javelins  thrown  by 
tlie  hand  of  a  feeble  old  man,  fall  by  the  way,  and 
never  reach  their  heart. 

But  let  such  a  one,  in  the  midst  of  his  flagrant  in- 
justice, remember  how  easy  a  matter  it  is,  notwith- 
standing his  superior  distance,  for  the  meanest  vassal 
to  be  revenged  on  him.  The  bitterness  of  an  affliction, 
even  where  cunning  is  wanting,  may  animate  the  poor- 
est spirit  with  resolutions  of  vengeance;  and  when 
once  that  fury  is  thoroughly  awakened,  we  know  not 
what  she  will  require  before  she  is  lulled  to  rest  again. 

The  most  powerful  tyrants  cannot  prevent  a  re- 
solved assassination ;  there  are  a  thousand  different 
ways  for  any  private  man  to  do  the  business,  who  is 
heartily  disposed  to  it,  and  willing  to  satisfy  his  appe- 
tite for  revenge  at  the  expense  of  his  life.  An  old 
woman  may  put  a  firebrand  in  the  palace  of  a  prince, 
and  it  is  in  the  power  of  a  poor  weak  fool  to  destroy 
the  children  of  the  mighty. 

An  instance  once  occurred  of  a  sailor  on  board  of  a 
merchant  vessel,  having  been  horribly  and  unjustly 
beaten  by  order  of  a  cruel  sea-captain.  Whereupon  a 
few  days  thereafter,  on  recovering  from  his  wounds,  he 
suddenly  rushed  upon  the  tyrant  then  walking  alone 
on  deck,  seized  him  around  the  waist  and  springing 
overboard  with  him,  both  perished  in  mid  ocean  to- 
gether. 


THE  PICTURE   PKEACHEK. 


421 


^^feuoJiL^sn^/^ 


THE  OLD  MAN  AND  HIS  SONS. 


behold  how  good  and  pleasant  it  is  for  hrethren  to  dwell  together 
in  unity!  Psa.  cxxiii.  1. A  three-fold  cord  is  not  easily  bro- 
ken,    Eccl.  iv.  12. And  he  bowed  the  heart  of  all  the  men  of 

Judah  as  the  heart  of  one  man,     H.  Sam.  xix.  14. Jerusalem 

is  builded  as  a  city  that  is  compact  together,    Psa,  cxxii.  3. Be 

kindly  affectioned  one  to  another,    Rom.  xii.  10, ...  16.  Be  of  the 
same  mind  one  toward  another. 


422        ROYAL  ROAD  TO  HAPPINESS;  OR 

THE   OLD  MAN  AND  HIS  SONS. 

An  old  man  had  many  sons,  who  were  often  falling 
out  with  one  another.  Wlien  the  father  had  exerted 
his  authority,  and  used  in  vain  other  means  to  reconcile 
them,  he  had  recourse  to  this  expedient.  He  ordered 
his  sons  to  be  called  before  him,  and  a  short  bundle  of 
rods  to  be  brought ;  and  then  commanded  them  one  by 
one  to  try  if,  with  all  their  might  and  strength  they 
could  any  of  them  break  it.  They  all  tried,  but  to  no 
purpose  ;  for  the  rods  being  closely  and  compactly 
bound  together,  it  was  impossible  for  the  force  of  man 
to  do  it.  After  this  the  father  ordered  the  bundle  to  be 
untied,  and  gave  a  single  rod  to  each  of  his  sons,  at  the 
same  time  bidding  him  try  to  break  it ;  which  when 
each  did  with  all  imaginable  ease,  the  father  addressed 
himself  to  them  to  this  effect:  ^^0,  my  sons,  behold 
the  power  of  unity ;  for  if  you,  in  like  manner,  would 
but  keep  yourselves  strictly  conjoined  in  the  bonds  of 
friendship,  it  could  not  be  in  the  power  of  any  mortal 
to  hurt  you ;  but  when  once  the  ties  of  brotherly  af- 
fection are  dissolved,  how  soon  do  you  fall  to  pieces, 
and  are  liable  to  be  violated  by  every  injurious  hand 
that  assaults  you ! 

Application. — ^Nothing  is  more  necessary  toward 
completing  and  continuing  the  well  being  of  mankind, 
than  their  entering  into  and  preserving  friendships  and 
alliances.  The  safety  of  a  government  depends  chiefly 
upon  this,  and  therefore  it  is  weakened  and  exposed  to 
its  enemies  in  proportion  as  it  is  divided  by  parties.  A 
kingdom  divided  against  itself  is  brought  to  desolation. 
And  the  same  holds  good  among  all  societies  and  cor- 
porations of  men,  from  the  great  constitution  of  the 
nation  down  to  every  little  parochial  vestry.  But  the 
necessity  of  friendship  extends  itself  to  all  sorts  of  re- 
lations in  life,  as  it  conduces  mightily  to  the  advantages 
of  particular  clans  and  families.  Those  of  the  same 
blood  and  lineage  have  a  natural  disposition  to  unite 


THE   PICTURE   PEEACHEB, 


423 


THE  FARMER'S  SONS. 


A7id  the  Lord  God  took  the  man,  and  put  him  into  the  garden 

of  Eden  to  dress  it  and  keep  it.     Gen.  ii.  15. And  labor,  work' 

ing  with  our  own  hands.     I.  Cor.  iv.  12. They  shall  not  labor 

in  vain.     Isa.  Ixv.   23. The  laborer  is  worthy  of  his  hire, 

Luke  X.  7. In  all  labor  there  is  profit,     Prov.  xiv.  23. 

27iey  have  a  good  reward  for  their  labor.    Eccl.  iv.  9, 


424        KOYAL  ROAD  TO  HAPPINESS;  OR 

together ;  which  they  ought  by  all  means  to  cultivate 
and  improve.  It  must  be  a  great  comfort  to  people 
when  they  fall  under  any  calamity  to  know  that  there 
are  many  others  who  sympathize  with  them  ;  a  great 
load  of  grief  is  mightily  lessened  when  it  is  parceled 
out  into  many  shares.  And  then  joy,  in  all  our  passions, 
loves  to  be  communicative,  and  generally  increases 
in  proportion  to  the  number  of  those  who  partake  of  it 
with  us.  We  defy  the  threats  and  malice  of  an  enemy 
when  we  are  assured  that  he  cannot  attack  us  single, 
but  must  encounter  a  bundle  of  allies  at  the  same  time. 
But  they  that  behave  themselves  so  as  to  have  few 
or  no  friends  in  the  world  live  in  a  perpetual  fear  and 
jealousy  of  mankind,  because  they  are  sensible  of  their 
own  weakness,  and  know  themselves  liable  to  be 
crushed  or  broken  to  pieces  by  the  first  aggressor  who 
appears  against  them. 

THE  FARMER  AND  HIS  SONS. 

A  certain  farmer  at  the  point  of  death  being  desirous 
that  his  sons  should  pursue  as  he  had  done  the  inno- 
cent course  of  agriculture,  used  this  device.  He  called 
them  to  his  bedside  and  said,  ^^  All  I  have  to  bequeath 
you  is  my  farm  and  vineyard.  If  I  have  any  other 
treasure  it  is  buried  under  the  ground  within  a  foot  of 
the  surface."  So  after  his  death  the  sons  dug  up  with 
unwearied  diligence  every  foot  of  the  farm  and  vine- 
yard, expecting  to  find  gold  and  silver  hidden  there. 
In  this  they  were  disappointed;  yet  such  thorough 
loosening  of  the  ground  led  to  magnificent  crops,  which 
proved  a  real  treasure.  From  this  fable  we  learn  that 
honest  industry  well  applied,  seldom  fails  of  bringing 
a  treasure.  Exercise  is  a  great  promotive  of  health, 
the  greatest  single  blessing  of  life,  while  the  treasures 
and  delights  of  intelligent  agriculture  are  so  various 
that  they  are  not  easily  to  be  conceived  without  expe- 
riencOo 


THE   PICTURE   PREACHER.  425 

THE  DOG  INVITED  TO  SUPPER. 

A  gentleman  having  invited  an  extraordinary  friend 
to  sup  with  him,  ordered  a  handsome  entertainment  to 
be  prepared.  His  dog,  observing  this,  thought  within 
himself,  that  now  would  be  a  good  opportunity  for  him 
to  invite  another  dog,  a  friend  of  his,  to  partake  of  the 
good  cheer.  Accordingly  he  did  so ;  and  the  strange 
dog  was  conducted  into  the  kitchen,  where  he  saw 
mighty  preparations  going  forward.  Thought  he  too 
himself,  ^'  This  is  rare  !  I  shall  fill  my  stomach  charm- 
ingly by-and-by,  with  some  of  these  dainties !  I'll  eat 
enough  to  last  me  a  week ;  Oh,  how  nicely  and  deli- 
ciously  shall  I  feed  !" 

While  he  stood  and  thought  thus  with  himself,  his 
tail  wagged  and  his  chops  watered  exceedingly ;  and 
this  drew  the  observation  of  the  cook  towards  him ; 
who,  seeing  a  strange  cur  with  his  eyes  intent  upon 
the  victuals,  stole  softly  behind  him,  and  taking  him  up 
by  the  two  hind  legs,  threw  him  out  of  a  window 
into  the  street. 

The  hard  stones  gave  him  a  very  severe  reception, 
and  he  was  almost  stunned  by  the  fall ;  but  recovering 
himself,  he  ran  yelping  and  crying  half  the  length  of 
the  street;  the  noise  of  which  brought  several  other 
dogs  about  him ;  who,  knowing  of  the  invitation, 
began  to  inquire  how  he  had  fared.  **  Oh,"  says  he, 
'*  admirably  well ;  I  never  was  better  entertained  in  my 
life ;  but,  in  troth,  we  drank  a  little  too  hard ;  for  my 
part,,  I  was  so  overtaken,  that  I  scarce  know  how  I 
came  here." 

Application. — There  is  no  depending  upon  a  sec- 
ond-hand interest;  unless  we  know  ourselves  to  be 
well  with  the  j^rincipal,  and  are  assured  of  his  favor 
and  protection,  we  stand  but  upon  a  slippery  founda- 
tion. They  are  strangers  to  the  world  who  are  so  vain 
as  to  think  they  can  be  well  with  any  one  by  proxy ; 
they  may,  by  this  means,  be  cajoled,  bubbled,  and  im- 


•^BRA^^ 


426 


ROYAL   ROAD    TO   HAPPINESS;    OR 


THE  DOG  INVITED  TO  SUPPER. 


Let  your  conversation  he  without  covetousness;  he  content  with 
such  things  as  ye  have,  Heb.  xiii.  5. 1  have  learned^  in  what- 
soever state  I  a7n,  therewith  to  he  content,     Phil.  iv.  11. Surely 

men  of  low  degree  are  vanity^  and  men  of  high  degree  are  a  lie; 
to  he  Irdd  in  the  halance  they  are  altogether  lighter  than  vanity, 
Psa.  Ixii,  9. Mind  not  high  things,     Rom.  xii.  16. 


THE   PICTURE    PREACHER.  427 

posed  upon,  but  are  under  great  uncertainty  as  to  gain- 
ing their  point,  and  may  probably  be  treated  with 
scorn  and  derision  in  the  end. 

Yet  there  are  not  wanting  among  the  several  species 
of  fops,  silly  people  of  this  sort,  who  pride  themselves 
in  an  imaginaiy  happiness,  from  being  in  the  good 
graces  of  a  great  man's  friend's  friend.  Alas  I  the 
great  men  themselves  are  but  too  apt  to  deceive  and 
fail  in  making  good  their  promises  ;  how,  then,  can  we 
expect  any  good  from  those  who  do  but  promise  and 
vow  in  their  names  I  To  place  a  confidence  in  such 
sparks,  is  indeed  so  false  a  reliance,  that  we  should  be 
ashamed  to  be  detected  in  it ;  and  like  the  cur  in  the 
fable,  rather  give  out  we  had  been  well  treated,  than 
let  the  world  see  how  justly  we  had  been  punished  for 
our  ridiculous  credulity. 


LAW    AND    THE  FOLLIES    OF   LITIGATION. 

The  engraving,  showing  a  quarrel  over  a  cow  where 
the  plaintiff  is  pulling  at  the  horns  and  the  defendant 
at  the  tail,  while  their  respective  lawyers  are  securing 
the  milk,  is  a  humorous  illustration  of  one  of  the  follies 
of  litigation — an  expensive  quarrel  often  costing  many 
times  more  than  the  value  of  the  object  fought  for. 
Each  generation  in  turn  furnishes  its  quota  of  examples 
of  parties  going  to  law  about  trifles,  each  seeming  to 
want  to  experience  in  turn  '^  the  folly  of  it."  Some  are 
often  saved  from  folly  by  ridicule  who  never  can  be 
saved  by  reason,  'and  in  this  view  the  engraving  is  use- 
ful as  a  warning. 

Law  in  practice  often  works  injustice.  The  techni- 
calities of  the  law  and  the  artifices  of  lawyers  are 
almost  innumerable.  The  omission  of  a  word  or  the 
misspelling  of  a  name  frequently  allows  the  triumph 
of  iniquity.     This  is  owing  to  the  rules  of  law  which 


428 


EOYAL   BO  AD   TO   HAPPINESS;   OR 


'"  ^^^^%"9S^^^^S"^^^#^Sp^:^^^-'^-*^?^ '••^^^^=-^'~ 


THE  FOLLIES  OF  LITIGATION. 


Ye  desire  to  Jiave^  and  cannot  obtain^  ye  fight  and  war  yet  ye 

have  not.     Jas.  iv,  2. J^it  he  possible,  as  much  as  in  you  lleth, 

live  peaceably  with  all  men.     Rom.  xii.  18. The  beginning  of 

strife  is  as  when  one  letteth  out  water ;  therefore  leave  off  contention, 

Prov.  xvii.  14. Avenge  not  yourselves^  for  vengeance  is  mine 

saith  the  Lord,     Rom.  xii.  19. ^fy&  do  icell  and  suffer  for  ii. 

ye  take  it  patiently,  this  is  acceptable  with  God,     I.  Pet.  ii  20, 


THE    PICTURE    PREACHER.  429 

can  be  only  of  general  application  and  incapable  of 
being  formed  to  suit  exceptional  cases.  The  divine 
law  is  perfect,  because  it  takes  cognizance  only  of 
motive  and  works  from  the  heart  outward. 

Our  laws  are  a  system  of  rules  to  guide  the  conduct 
of  men  in  their  dealings  with  each  other  in  the  varied 
relations  of  life.  Men  in  the  savage  state  are  a  law 
unto  themselves :  *^  might  makes  right."  Having  but 
little  or  no  property,  the  savage  requires  neither  law 
nor  lawyers.  We  could  not  do  without  either  without 
relapsing  into  barbarism.  And  as  nations  become 
more  civilized,  they  require  more  laws  as  their  interests 
become  more  diversified.  The  domain  of  law  has  been 
widely  enlarged  within  the  last  forty  years  by  the 
creation  of  gigantic  corporations  whose  rights  as  in 
conflict  with  those  of  individuals  and  communities  have 
to  be  wisely  guarded.  The  subject  of  Patent  Law  is 
another  great  subject  unknown  to  olden  times. 

Few  realize  how  much  they  are  indebted  to  law.  It 
covers  us  all  over  like  a  mantle  and  protects  our  lives 
and  property  from  destruction.  The  science  of  law 
requires  for  its  study  the  highest  qualities  of  the  human 
intellect ;  and  never  so  greatly  as  at  the  present  day 
because  the  interests  of  society  were  never  so  multi- 
farious ;  and  never  so  much  and  such  diversified  knowl- 
edge was  required  for  the  framing  of  laws.  Timothy 
Dwight,  President  of  Yale  College,  considered  in  his 
day,  seventy  years  ago,  the  giant  intellect  of  New  Eng- 
land, in  his  lectures  to  students,  said,  so  difiicult  was  the 
framing  of  a  law  that  he  never  knew  of  one  not  framed 
by  a  lawyer  that  was  of  any  value  whatsoever. 

From  remote  ages  lawyers  have  been  the  great 
defenders  of  human  liberty.  Without  the  wisdom  of 
lawyers  and  the  righteous  decisions  of  learned,  con- 
scientious judges,  mankind  to-day  would  nowhere  be 
better  than  barbarians.  Each  man  would  be  judge, 
jury,  and  executioner,  in  his  own  case  and  according  to 
his  own  biased  judgment. 


430  ROYAL   ROAD    TO   HAPPINESS;    OR 

THE   PARTIAL  JUDGE. 

A  farmer  came  to  a  neighboring  lawyer  expressing 
great  concern  for  an  accident  which  he  said  had  just 
happened.  ^^One  of  your  oxen,"  continued  he,  ^^has 
been  gored  by  an  unlucky  bull  of  mine,  and  I  should 
be  glad  to  know  how  I  shall  make  you  reparation." 
^^  Thou  art  a  very  honest  fellow,"  replied  the  lawyer, 
*'  and  will  not  think  it  unreasonable  that  I  expect  one 
of  thy  oxen  in  return."  ^'  It  is  no  more  than  justice," 
said  the  farmer,  ^'to  be  sure;  but  what  did  I  say?  I 
mistake,  it  is  your  bull  that  has  killed  one  of  my  oxen." 
"  Indeed  !"  says  the  lawyer,    ^*  that  alters  the  case  ;  I 

must  enquire  into  the  affair;  and  if "     *^ And  if," 

said  the  farmer ;  ^^  I  find  the  business  would  have  been 
concluded  without  an  ifj  had  you  been  as  ready  to  do 
justice  to  others  as  to  exact  it  from  them." 

In  the  engraving  prefixed  to  this  fable,  the  farmer  is 
represented  as  pointing  to  the  ^^  Golden  Rule,"  ^4he 
doing  as  we  would  be  done  by,"  as  a  sure  guide  in  all 
such  matters.  ^^  This  is  a  most  sublime  precept,"  says 
a  commentator,  *^and  highly  worthy  of  the  grandeur 
and  beneficence  of  the  just  God  who  gave  it." 

The  general  meaning  or  spirit  of  it  is  this  :  guided 
by  justice  and  mercy,  do  unto  others  what  you  would 
have  them  to  do  to  you  were  you  in  like  circumstances. 
The  duty  of  loving  God  with  all  our  hearts  and  our 
neighbor  as  ourselves  is  the  substance  of  the  second 
table  of  the  law,  and  of  the  instructions  and  exhorta- 
tions of  the  prophets  on  these  subjects,  and  of  the  sum 
of  all  that  is  laid  down  in  the  sacred  writings  relative 
to  men's  conduct  to  each  other.  It  seems,  says  one, 
that  God  has  in  some  measure  impressed  these  precepts 
upon  the  hearts  of  all  men  even  in  heathen  nations. 

Whenever  the  spirit  of  the  Golden  Rule  is  carried 
out,  every  one  must  perceive  that  it  would  lead  to  uni- 
versal justice,  truth,  goodness,  gentleness,  compassion, 
beneficence,  forgiveness,  and  exclude  everything  of  a 


\3RA 

OF  THl 

xilVERSII 


THE   PICTURE   PREACHER. 


mumm 


Do  as  you  would 
be  done  by. 


THE  PARTIAL  JUDGE. 


Therefore  all  things  whatsover  ye  would  that  men  should  do 
to  you,  do  ye  even  so  to  them,  for  this  is  the  law  and  the  proph- 
ets.    Matt,  vil  12. TTiou  shalt  love  thy  neighbor  as  thyself 

Matt.  xxii.  39. Look  not  every  man  on  his  own  things,  hut 

every  man  also  on  the  things  of  others,  Phil.  ii.  4. That  which 

is  altogether  Just  shalt  thou  follow,     Deut.  xvi.  20. He  that 

mceareth  to  his  own  hurt  and  changeth  not.     Psa.  xv.  4. What 

doth  the  Lord  require  of  thee  but  to  do  justly,  love  mercy,  and  walk 
humbly,    Micahv.  8. 


432  ROYAL   KOAD   TO   HAPPINESS;   OR 

contrary  nature.  These  rules  or  maxims  fully  carried 
out  would  make  a  paradise  on  the  earth,  and  the  will 
of  God  would  be  done  on  the  earth  as  it  is  done  in 
heaven. 


FRIVOLITY  OF  CHARACTER. 

There  are  of  both  sexes,  a  number  of  volatile  per- 
sons, who  bear  a  near  resemblance  to  the  little  play- 
some  birds  that  skip  perpetually  from  bush  to  bush. — 
Their  attention  is  never  fixed ;  their  thoughts  run  upon 
everything  by  turns,  and  stay  upon  nothing  long.  In 
conversation  they  are  unsettled  and  flighty ;  when  they 
read,  ''  they  gallop  through  a  book  like  a  child  look- 
ing for  pictures." 

Characters  of  this  sort  abound  in  the  upper  regions 
of  life,  among  those  who  have  been  badly  educated,  and 
have  nothing  to  do  ;  and,  by  a  celebrated  writer,  they 
are  admirably  hit  off  in  the  following  pictorial  sketch 
of  Vetusta. 

^'  She  is  to  be  again  dressed  fine,  and  keep  her  visit- 
ing day;  again  to  change  the  color  of  her  clothes, 
again  to  have  a  new  head,  and  again  to  put  patches  on 
her  face.  She  is  again  to  see  who  acts  best  at  the 
play-house,  and  who  sings  finest  at  the  opera.  She  is 
again  to  make  ten  visits  in  a  day,  and  be  ten  times  in 
a  day  trying  to  talk  artfully,  easily  and  politely  about 
nothing.  She  is  again  to  be  delighted  with  some  new 
fashion,  and  again  angry  at  the  change  of  some  old 
one.  She  is  again  to  be  at  cards  and  gaming  at  mid- 
night, and  again  in  bed  at  noon.  She  is  to  be  again 
pleased  with  hypocritical  compliments,  and  again  dis- 
turbed at  imaginary  affronts.  She  is  to  be  again 
pleased  at  her  good  luck  at  gaming,  and  again  tor- 
mented with  the  loss  of  her  money.  She  is  again  to 
prepare  herself  for  a  birth-night,  and  again  to  see  the 
town  full  of  company.    She  is  again  to  hear  the  cabals 


THE   PICTURE   PREACHER.  433 

and  intrigues  of  the  town  ;  again  to  have  secret  intel- 
ligence of  private  amours,  and  early  notices  of  mar- 
riages, quarrels,  and  partings." 

Such  is  the  description  of  an  elderly  fashionable 
lady,  of  the  London  stamp ;  a  description,  which,  under 
the  fictitious  name  of  a  single  individual,  was  meant  to 
embrace  a  large  class. 

Nor  is  it  only  in  the  regions  of  fashion  and  high-life, 
that  frivolity  of  character  is  seen;  though,  there,  it 
has  the  strongest  stimulants  and  the  most  ample  means 
of  displaying  itself.  Fortunate  are  they,  on  whom  is 
imposed  the  salutary  necessity  of  doing  something 
valuable  with  their  existence ;  whose  daily  occupations, 
as  well  as  worldly  circumstances,  withhold  them  from 
an  imitation  of  those  called  the  great,  but  who,  by 
their  frivolous  pursuits,  render  themselves  least  among 
the  little. 

A*  flighty,  frivolous  turn  of  mind,  is  owing  partly  to 
nature,  partly  to  education,  and  partly  to  habit. 

Everybody  that  is  observant,  must  have  seen  that 
some  children  are  more  sedate,  and  others  more  vola- 
tile ;  and  that  the  latter,  during  their  infantile  years, 
are  peculiarly  pleasing  for  their  pert  vivacity.  They 
perform  childish  things  in  the  most  engaging  manner. 
And  not  in  childhood  only  do  they  gratify  and  please ; 
in  the  following  stage  of  early  youth  there  is  a  charm 
in  the  vivaciousness  of  their  temper,  which  we  are  apt 
to  mistake  for  the  germ  of  genius.  But  the  expecta- 
tion is  often  disappointed  at  the  period  of  mature  age. 
There  is  then  found  a  gay  surface,  but  no  depth ;  a 
high-fed  fancy,  but  a  lank  understanding  and  feeble 
judgment.  The  man,  even  the  aged  man,  is  still  as 
volatile,  still  as  fond  of  little  sports  and  of  little  things, 
still  as  boyish,  as  when  he  was  a  boy. 

The  fruit  of  age  is  generally  corresponding  to  the 
education  of  childhood.  Education  goes  far,  very  far, 
in  determining  and  fixing  characters ;  and  of  none  more 
than  of  young  minds  remarkably  vivacious.     Though 

19 


434         BOYAL  ROAD  TO  HAPPINESS;  OR 

a  more  than  ordinary  degree  of  vivacity,  in  the  early 
years  of  life,  affords  no  sure  promise  of  superior 
strength  of  understanding,  so  neither  is  it  to  be  inter- 
preted on  the  other  hand,  as  a  sign  that  the  under- 
standing will  be  weak ;  for  it  sometimes  is  an  accom- 
paniment of  great  and  shining  parts.  But  in  either 
case  the  management  of  children  of  this  descnption 
ia  a  matter  of  peculiar  delicacy.  If  prudent  care  be 
taken  to  curb  and  regulate,  without  extinguishing,  the 
vivacity  of  their  tempers  ;  if  their  attention  be  directed 
betimes  to  things  most  important  and  serious  ;  if  the 
solid  parts  of  education  be  well  wrought  into  their 
liiinds : — in  such  cases,  although  at  last  they  should 
turn  out  to  be  but  merely  of  middling  abilities,  yet 
they  would  stand  a  fair  chance  of  being  not  only  use- 
ful, but  peculiarly  agreeable,  members  of  community. 
Contrariwise,  if  their  education  be  conducted,  as  too 
often  it  happens,  in  a  manner  calculated  to  nourish  and 
confirm  the  volatile  bias  of  their  nature,  there  will  be 
very  little  hope  of  their  future  respectability  or  useful- 
ness. For,  should  they  have  talents  never  so  bright, 
the  chances  are  ten  to  one  that  they  will  misemploy 
them.  Or,  on  the  other  hand,  if  their  understandings 
prove  but  slender,  they  will  be  always  children  in 
manners  and  behavior; — pert,  lively,  frolicsome  chil- 
dren, with  hoary  heads  and  spectacles  on  the  nose. 

*'  Habit  is  second  nature."  Especially,  when  habit 
is  superadded  to  the  strong  bias  of  nature,  it  is  the 
hardest  thing  in  the  world  to  overcome  it.  And  thus 
it  happens  that  children  of  more  than  common  liveli- 
ness of  temper,  so  seldom  learn  to  '^put  away  childish 
things,"  when  they  come  to  be  full  grown  men  and 
women.  Permitted  to  spend  their  early  days  in  little 
else  but  trifles,  the  habit  of  trifling  becomes  firmly 
rooted,  and  triflers  they  continue  to  be  throughout  the 
whole  of  their  lives.  The  same  volatileness,  which 
made  them  so  pleasing  in  their  childhood,  renders  them 
shiftless,  worthless  and  of  small  repute  ever  after. 


THE    PICTURE    PREACHER.  435 

Mankind,  says  a  wise  observer,  are  roughly  divided 
in  unequal  proportions  into  two  sets — 1st,  the  Frivolotis, 
those  who  consume  day  by  day  all  they  can  lay  their 
hands  on,  thinking  no  more  of  what  is  to  be  their  fate  in 
a  year  or  ten  years  hence  than  the  lower  animals :  2d, 
the  TJioughtful,  a  much  less  numerous  body — who  are 
always  looking  ahead  and  acting  with  more  or  less 
regard  to  the  future.  What  impressive  examples  one 
could  produce  of  these  differences  of  taste ! 

Two  young  men,  of  good  education,  start  in  life  with 
pretty  equal  chances  of  success,  one  of  them  rises  by  gra- 
dations to  be  Lord  Chancellor.  Where  do  we  find  the 
other  ?  Seated  with  his  back  to  the  wall,  drawing  fig- 
ures in  red  and  white  chalk  on  a  smooth  piece  of  pave- 
ment, in  ihe  hope  of  retiring  to  his  evening  haunt  with 
the  simi  of  half  a  crown  to  be  spent  probably  in  the 
felicity  of  a  carouse.  That  we  may  presume  is  the 
line  of  life  he  has  deliberately  preferred.  He  has 
worked  for  beggary  and  got  it ! 

When  a  man  will  make  no  sacrifice  of  his  pleasures, 
but  sets  his  heart  on  freshly  beginning  the  world  every 
day  or  every  week  it  is  not  difficult  to  do  so.  The 
facility  with  which  the  thing  can  be  done  explains 
much  of  what  seems  to  perplex  society  and  drive  it 
almost  to  its  wif  s  end. 


MEMORY,  ITS  USE  AND  ABUSE. 

Memory  is  defined  to  be  that  faculty  of  the  mind  by 
which  it  retains  the  knowledge  of  past  events.  No 
one  can  explain  this  wonderful  power  by  which  scenes 
through  which  we  have  passed  scores  of  years  ago 
are  oftentimes  suddenly  presented  to  the  mind  appar- 
ently without  any  effort  on  our  part  to  recall  them. 

In  the  little  citadel  of  the  mind,  the  memory  acts  as 
the  part  of  a  servant,  and  is  often  greatly  blamed. 


436 


ROYAL   ROAD    TO    HAPPINESS;    OR 


MEMORY,  ITS  USE  AND  ABUSE. 


Ttememher  now  thy  Creator  in  the  days  of  thy  youth.     Eccl. 

xii.  1. Remember  the  days  of  old ^  consider  the  years  of  many 

generations,     Deut.  xxxii.  7. My  soul  is  cast  down^ ....  there- 
fore will  I  remember  thee  from  the  land  of  Jordan  .  .  .  ,from  the 

hill  Mizar.     Psa.  xlii.  6. A  poor  wise  man^  and  he  by  his 

wisdom  delivered  the  city;  yet  no  man  remembered  that  same  poor 

man.     Eccl.  ix.  15. And  remember  all  the  commandments  of 

the  Lord,  and  do  them.     Num.  xv.  39. This  is  my  memorial 

unto  all  generations,     Ex.  iii.  15. The  memory  of  the  just  is 

blessed.    Pro  v.  x.  7. His  disciples  remembered  that  he  had  said 

this  unto  them,     John  ii.  22. 


THE   PICTURE   PREACHER.  437 

Men  seldom  are  dissatisfied  with  their  understandings, 
or  their  judgment  or  their  hearts,  but  they  berate  the 
weakness  of  their  memories,  especially  old  people,  but 
almost  never  the  weakness  of  their  judgments. 

**  'Tis  with  our  judgments  as  our  watches — none 
Go  just  alike,  yet  each  believes  his  own." 

Artificial  methods  of  assisting  the  memory  have  been 
suggested  by  writers,  and  at  least  one  invention  for 
that  purpose  has  been  made  and  put  in  practice  by 
those  who  could  not  write.  It  is  worthy  of  notice  as 
a  curiosity,  if  not  for  its  use. 

According  to  Smith's  history  of  the  colony  of  New 
York,  in  1689,  commissioners  from  Boston,  Plymouth, 
and  Connecticut,  had  a  conference  with  the  five  In- 
dian nations  at  Albany  ;  when  a  Mohawk  sachem,  in  a 
speech  of  great  length,  answered  the  message  of  the 
commissioners,  and  repeated  all  that  had  been  said  the 
preceding  day.  The  art  they  had  for  assisting  their 
memories  was  this.  The  sachem  who  presided  had  a 
bundle  of  sticks  prepared  for  the  purpose,  and  at  the 
close  of  every  pnncipal  article  of  the  message,  deliv- 
ered to  them,  he  gave  a  stick  to  another  sachem,  charg- 
ing him  with  the  remembrance  of  that  particular  article. 
By  this  means,  the  orator,  after  a  previous  conference 
with  the  sachems  who  severally  had  the  sticks,  was 
prepared  to  repeat  every  part  of  the  message,  and  to 
give  to  it  its  proper  reply.  This  custom,  as  the  his- 
torian remarks,  was  invariably  pursued  in  all  their 
public  treaties. 

While  all  are  blest  with  such  a  measure  of  memory 
as  might  sufiice  them,  if  well  improved,  some  few  enjoy 
it  in  an  extraordinary  measure;  and,  what  is  truly 
wonderful,  a  very  strong  memory  is  sometimes  found 
yoked  with  a  very  feeble  intellect.      There  are  some 

1)ersons  that  can  repeat,  word  for  word,  a  considerably 
ong  discourse,  upon  hearing  or  reading  it  only  once  or 
twice,  and  yet  are  possessed  of  minds  too  weak  and 


438 


OR 


slender  to  reason  upon  matters  with  any  considerable 
degree  of  ability,  or  to  judge  of  them  accurately. 

A  man  of  this  sort  ever  makes  himself  tiresome,  if 
not  ridiculous,  by  dealing  out  wares  from  the  vast 
store  of  his  memory,  without  regard  to  time,  place,  or 
fitness.  But  whenever,  on  the  other  hand,  an  excel- 
lent memory  is  united  with  a  sound  and  vigorous  un- 
derstanding, nothing  but  indolence  can  hinder  such  a 
one  from  becoming  great;  nothing  but  the  want  of 
good  principle  at  heart,  can  prevent  his  acting  with 
superior  excellence,  some  part,  or  other,  upon  the 
theatre  of  life. 

In  general,  we  forget  for  want  of  attention,  more 
than  the  want  of  memory.  Persons  of  very  indiffer- 
ent memories  find  no  difficulty  in  remembering  certain 
things  that  had  excited  their  attention  in  a  very  high 
degree ;  while  a  thousand  other  things  of  far  greater 
moment  have  been  utterly  forgotten  by  them.  Once 
on  a  time,  an  Indian  preacher  said  to  an  assembly  of 
white  people  who  were  gathered  together  to  hear  him 
— ^^  Though  you  will  forget  what  I  say,  you  will  re- 
member as  long  as  you  live,  that  you  had  heard  an 
Indian  preach."  It  was  even  so.  None  of  the  assem- 
bly did  probably  forget  this  striking  circumstance, 
though  but  few  retained  in  memory  either  sermon  or 
text. 

People  invariably  remember  faces  better  than  names, 
because  a  face  is  an  old  object  brought  to  mind  or 
view,  while  the  name  is  not  an  idea  nor  an  object,  but 
a  mere  combination  of  letters  generally  expressing 
nothing !  Verbal  memory,  that  faculty  by  which  one 
can  exactly  repeat  a  conversation  which  takes  place  in 
one's  presence,  word  for  word,  is  by  no  means  com- 
mon. News  reporters,  however,  acquire  it.  Mem- 
ories for  certain  things  is  a  matter  of  cultivation 
entirely.  Hotel  clerks  learn  to  speak  the  name  of 
every  guest  on  sight,  though  their  guests  may  be 
changing  continually ;  and  a  certain  insiu-ance  agent  we 


THE   PICTURE   PREACHER.  439 

knew  on  hearing  the  name  of  any  one  of  his  two  hun- 
dred poHcy  holders,  could  at  once  tell  the  number  of 
his  policy;  his  memory  otherwise  was  but  ordinary. 
Cyrus  knew  the  name  of  each  soldier  in  his  army. 
Scipio  knew  all  the  inhabitants  of  Rome.  Lord  Gran- 
ville could  repeat  from  beginning"  to  the  end  the  New 
Testament  in  the  original  Greek,  and  Bossuet  could 
repeat  the  whole  of  the  Bible  and  many  other  works 
beside.  A  young  man  of  our  acquaintance  accus- 
tomed to  walking  down  Broadway,  New  York,  could 
repeat  the  names  on  the  signs  for  over  a  mile  on  both 
sides  of  the  street.  Still  another  could  repeat  the 
whole  of  Paradise  Lost. 

Sir  Walter  Scott  had  a  fine  memory.  One  day  he 
was  sailing  down  the  Tyne  with  Campbell,  when  the 
latter  read  over  to  him  and  once  only  a  poem  he  had 
just  written.  A  few  days  after,  the  poet  came  to  Sir 
Walter  Scott  in  great  distress,  he  had  lost  the  manu- 
script of  his  poem  and  could  not  **for  the  life  of  him" 
recall  it.  Sir  Walter  smiled  and  said,  ^^  I  think  I  can 
help  you,  Campbell."  Whereupon  he  repeated  it 
word  for  word,  when  Campbell  wrote  it  down  ;  and 
thus  was  saved  to  the  world  the  famous  poem  begin- 
ning with — 

"  On  Linden  when  the  sun  was  low 
All  bloodless  lay  the  untrodden  snow, 
And  dark  as  winter  was  the  flow 
Of  Iser  rolling  rapidly." 

A  quick  and  retentive  memory  can  be  easily  ac- 
quired by  almost  any  one  who  will  take  the  pains. 
No  faculty  can  be  more  easily  strengthened.  Memory 
is  the  golden  key  to  unlock  life's  richest  treasures  ;  and 
one  of  its  best  uses  is  to  remember  benefits ;  and  no 
abuse  of  it  to  forget  injuries,  which  like  light  suppers, 
good  music  and  cheerful  conversation  just  before  retir- 
ing, conduces  to  easy  digestion  and  to  soothing  dreams. 
The  Scripture  warning,  against  allowing  the  sun  to  go 
down  upon  one's  wrath,  forbids  this  abuse. 


440  KOYAL   KOAD   TO    HAPPINESS;    OR 

LOOK   ALOFT. 

The  order  *'  Look  Aloft  and  hold  on  to  the  rigging" 
was  given  to  the  sailor  boy  when  about  to  fall  when 
near  the  mast-head.  He  had  been  sent  to  make  some 
adjustment  in  the  rigging,  during  a  heavy  sea,  and  a 
storm  of  wind  and  rain.  Feeling  the  pressure  of  the 
wind  and  rain  about  him  and  looking  downward  on 
the  rolling  sea  beneath,  he  became  alarmed,  and  his 
head  began  to  swim,  and  he  knew  not  what  to  do. 
In  his  distress  he  called  on  the  captain  for  ^^lielp." 
His  commander,  understanding  his  danger,  called  out 
by  a  trumpet  voice,  ^'  Hold  fast  to  the  rigging,  look 
aloft!  and  all  will  be  well !" 

While  on  the  voyage  of  Life,  many  of  us  perhaps 
during  its  storms  and  trials  may  become  somewhat 
bewildered  and  dizzy  by  looking  at  what  is  taking 
place  around  us.  We  sometimes  see  the  righteous 
impoverished  and  oppressed.  Many  in  past  times 
have  even  been  killed  for  keeping  God's  command- 
ments. We  may  be  tempted  like  Job  to  ask,  "Where- 
fore do  the  wicked  live,  become  old,  yea,  are  mighty 
in  power  f  The  psalmist  says  the  "  ungodly  prosper 
in  the  world ;  they  increase  in  riches."  Some  may 
be  led  to  say,  "Why  is  this  I  If  God  hates  wickedness, 
why  does  he  suffer  it  to  exist  ?"  These  and  like  ques- 
tions of  the  same  nature  occur  to  our  minds,  and  we 
may  think  perhaps  if  we  had  the  disposal  of  things  we 
would  have  no  sin  or  suffering  in  the  universe.  Are 
we  wiser  than  God  ? 

In  a  religious  sense,  when  in  our  Christian  pilgrim- 
age we  may  encounter  darkness,  storms  and  difficulties, 
we  meet  many  things  we  cannot  fathom  or  explain. 
We  are  "  fearfully  and  wonderfully  made :"  man  is  a 
mystery  to  himself:  no  human  philosophy  can  teach 
him  how  the  soul  is  united  to  the  body  or  why  he  can 
move  his  finger.  If  we  undertake  to  fathom  these 
matters  or  others  like  them,  we  get  bewildered,  and  our 


THE   PICTURE   PREACHER. 


441 


LOOK  ALOFT. 


Look  unto  me  and  he  saved.     Isa.  xlv.  22. They  reel  to  and 

fro^  and  stagger  like  a  drunken  man  ....  they  cry  unto  the  Lord 
, ,  , .  he  hringeth  them  out  of  their  distress,     Psa.  cviiL  27,  28. 
19* 


442  BOYAL   KOAD   TO   HAPPINESS;   OK 

heads  become  dizzy  like  that  of  the  sailor  boy  at  the 
mast-head.  To  get  relief  we  must  ^^look  aloft,"  or  in 
other  words  '^  look  unto  Jesus,  the  author  and  finisher 
of  our  faith." 

Mr.  Spurgeon,  the  celebrated  preacher  in  London, 
before  his  conversion  was  for  a  long  period  under 
great  distress  of  mind  under  ^^  the  terror  of  God's  law." 
He  says,  "  I  thought  the  sun  was  blotted  out  of  my 
sky, — that  I  had  so  sinned  against  God  that  there  was 
no  hope."  His  mind  appears  to  have  become  bewild- 
ered; he  prayed,  but  he  says,  ^*I  never  had  an  answer 
that  I  knew  of."  He  had  Christian  parents  and  much 
religious  instruction.  The  secret  of  his  distress  was, 
he  says,  *^  I  did  not  fully  understand  the  freeness  and 
simplicity  of  the  Gospel  plan."  One  Sunday  morning 
Mr.  S.  started  to  go  to  a  place  of  worship,  but  a  snow 
storm  prevented  him  from  reaching  it.  He  then 
turned  down  a  court  and  came  to  a  little  primitive 
Methodist  chapel,  belonging  to  a  religious  body  of  the 
poorer  class  of  people.  The  storm  so  prevailed  that 
the  regular  preacher  did  not  make  his  appearance. 
About  a  dozen  or  fifteen  people  were  assembled,  one 
of  the  number,  apparently  more  stupid  and  ignorant 
than  the  rest,  went  up  to  the  pulpit  to  preach.  His 
text  was  "  Look  unto  me  and  be  ye  saved,  all  ye  ends 
of  the  earth."  He  did  not  even  pronounce  the  words 
rightly.  He  was  obliged  to  stick  to  his  text  for  the 
simple  reason  that  there  was  but  little  else  he  could 
say.      He   began,    "  My  dear  friends,    the   text   says 

*  Look  !^  It  ain't  lifting  your  foot  or  your  finger ;  it's 
just  *  Look !'  Well,  a  man  need  not  go  to  college  to 
look.  You  may  be  the  biggest  fool,  yet  you  can  look. 
A  man  need  not  be  worth  a  thousand  a  year  to  look. 
Any  one  can  look ;  a  child  can  look.     The  text  says, 

*  Look  unto  me  !'  Many  on  ye  are  looking  to  your- 
selves. No  use  looking  there ;  you'll  never  find  com- 
fort there  .  .  .  ."  The  preacher  followed  up  the  text 
in  this  way.     ^*  Look  unto  me ;  I  am  sweating  drops 


THE   PICTURE   PREACHER.  443 

of  blood  ....  I  am  hanging  on  the  cross.  Look  ;  I 
am  dead  and  buried  .  .  .  Look,  I  arise  again  .  .  I 
ascend — I  am  sitting  at  the  Father^s  right  hand.  Look 
to  me,  Oh  look !"  He  continued  in  this  manner  some 
ten  minutes  or  so,  and  came  to  the  end  of  his  discourse. 
"  Then,"  says  Mr.  S.  "he  looked  at  me  under  the  gal- 
lery and  said,  *  Young  man,  you  look  very  miserable 
.  .  .  and  you  always  will  be  miserable — ^miserable  in  life 
and  death — if  you  do  not  obey  my  text,  but  if  you  obey 
now,  this  moment  you  will  be  saved/  Then  he  shouted 
as  only  a  primitive  Methodist  can,  '  voung  man,  look 
to  Jesus  Christ ;  look  now.'  He  made  me  start  in  my 
seat ;  but  I  did  look  to  Jesus  Christ,  there  and  then. 
The  cloud  was  gone,  the  darkness  of  five  years  rolled 
away,  and  at  that  moment  I  saw  the  sun." 

The  following  verses  written  by  Jonathan  Lawrence, 
a  native  of  New  York,  a  graduate  of  Columbia  Col- 
lege, who  died  in  1833  at  the  early  age  of  26,  are  in 
full  sympathy  with  the  foregoing.     They  are  entitled 

Look  Aloft. 

In  the  tempest  of  life,  when  the  wave  and  the  gale 
Are  around,  and  above,  if  thy  footing  should  fail — 
If  thy  eye  should  grow  dim  and  thy  caution  depart — 
"  Look  aloft,"  and  be  firm,  and  be  fearless  of  heart. 

If  the  friend  who  embraced  in  prosperity's  glow 
With  a  smile  for  each  joy  and  a  tear  for  each  woe, 
Should  betray  thee  when  sorrows  like  clouds  are  arrayed, 
"  Look  aloft"  to  the  friendship  which  never  shall  fade. 

Should  the  visions  which  hope  spreads  in  light  to  thine  eye, 
Like  the  tints  of  the  rainbow,  brighten  to  ny, 
Then  turn,  and  thro'  tears  of  repentant  regret, 
"  Look  aloft"  to  the  sun  that  is  never  to  set. 

Should  they  who  are  dearest,  the  son  of  thy  heart — 
The  wife  of  thy  bosom — in  sorrow  depart, 
"  Look  aloft"  from  the  darkness  and  dust  of  the  tomb, 
To  that  soil  where  "  affection  is  ever  in  bloonu" 

And  O  I  when  death  conies  in  terrors  to  cast 

His  feai-s  on  the  future,  his  pall  on  the  past. 

In  that  moment  of  darkness,  with  hope  in  thy  heart, 

And  a  smile  in  thine  eye,  "  look  aloft"  and  depart ! 


444        ROYAL  ROAD  TO  HAPPINESS;  OR 

THE  FROGS  DESIRE  A  KING. 

The  frogs,  grieved  of  having  no  established  govern- 
ment, sent  an  ambassador  to  Jupiter,  the  heathen  divin- 
ity, entreating  for  a  king.  He  perceiving  their  sim- 
plicity, cast  a  huge  log  into  the  lake.  The  frogs,  ter- 
rified at  the  splash  occasioned  by  its  fall,  hid  them- 
selves in  the  deep  water.  But  no  sooner  did  they  see 
that  the  huge  log  continued  motionless,  than  they 
swam  to  the  top  of  the  water,  dismissed  their  fears, 
came  to  so  despise  it,  as  to  jump  up  and  squat  upon  it. 
After  some  time,  they  began  to  think  themselves  ill- 
treated  in  the  appointment  of  so  inert  a  ruler,  and  sent 
a  second  deputation  to  Jupiter,  to  pray  that  he  would 
set  over  them  another  sovereign.  He  then  gave  them 
an  eel  to  govern  them.  When  the  frogs  discovered  his 
easy,  good  nature,  they  yet  a  third  time  sent  to  Jupi- 
ter to  beg  that  he  would  choose  for  them  another  king. 
Jupiter,  displeased  at  their  complaints,  sent  a  heron, 
who  preyed  upon  the  frogs  day  by  day,  till  there  were 
none  left  to  croak  upon  the  lake. 

Application. — It  is  pretty  extraordinary  to  find  a 
fable  of  this  kind,  finished  with  so  bold  and  yet  polite 
a  turn  by  Phsedrus :  one  who  obtained  his  freedom  by 
the  favor  of  Augustus,  and  wrote  it  in  the  time  of  Tibe- 
rius ;  who  were,  successively,  tyrannical  usurpers  of 
the  Roman  government.  If  we  may  take  his  word  for 
it,  ^sop  spoke  it  upon  this  occasion.  When  the  Com- 
monwealth of  Athena  flourished  under  good  wholesome 
laws  of  its  own  enacting,  they  relied  so  much  upon  the 
security  of  their  liberty,  that  they  negliger  tly  suff'ered 
it  to  run  out  into  licentiousness. 

And  factions  happening  to  be  fomented  among  them 
by  designing  people  much  about  the  same  time,  Pisis- 
tratus  took  that  opportunity  to  make  himself  master  of 
their  citadel  and  liberties  both  together.  The  Athen- 
ians finding  themselves  in  a  state  of  slavery,  though 
their  tyrant  happened  to  be  a  very  merciful  one,  yet 


THE   PICTURE   PREACHER. 


445 


THE  FKOGS  DESIRE  A  KING. 


And  Joshua  said would  to   God  we  had  been  content, 

Joshua  vii.  7. And  the  elders  of  Israel  came  to  Samuel  and 

said ....  make  us  a  king  to  judge  us  like  all  the  nations.  . .  .  • 
And  ye  shall  cry  out  in  that  day  because  of  your  king,    I.  Sam. 

viii.  4,  5, 18. 1  have  learned  i?i  whatsoever  state  I  am^  there" 

with  to  be  content,    PhiL  iv.  11. 


446  ROYAL   ROAD    TO   HAPPINESS;    OR 

could  not  bear  the  thoughts  of  it ;  so  that  -Ssop,  where 
there  was  no  remedy,  prescribes  them  to  patience  by 
the  example  of  the  foregoing  fable :  and  adds,  at  last, 
*^  Wherefore,  my  dear  countrymen,  be  contented  with 
your  present  condition,  bad  as  it  is,  for  fear  a  change 
should  be  worse." 


THE  FOX  AND  THE  COUNTRYMAN. 

A  fox  being  hard  hunted,  and  having  run  a  long 
chase,  was  quite  tired ;  at  last  he  spied  a  country  fel- 
low in  a  wood,  to  whom  he  applied  for  refuge,  entreat- 
ing that  he  would  give  him  leave  to  hide  himself  in  his 
cottage,  till  the  hounds  were  gone  by.  The  man  con- 
sented, and  the  fox  went  and  covered  himself  up  close 
in  a  corner  of  the  hovel.  Presently  the  hunters  came 
up,  and  inquired  of  the  man  if  he  had  seen  the  fox. 
**No,"  says  he,  **I  have  not  seen  him  indeed;"  but  all 
the  while  he  pointed  with  his  finger  to  the  place  where 
the  fox  was  hid. 

However,  the  hunters  did  not  understand  him,  but 
called  off  their  hounds  and  went  another  way.  Soon 
after,  the  fox  creeping  out  of  his  hole,  was  going  to 
sneak  off;  when  the  man,  calling  after  him,  asked  him, 
'4f  that  was  his  manners,  to  go  away  without  thank- 
ing his  benefactor,  to  whose  fidelity  he  owed  his  life  ?" 
Reynard,  who  had  peeped  all  the  while,  and  seen  what 
passed,  answered,  *^I  know  what  obligations  I  have  to 
you  well  enough;  and  I  assure  you,  if  your  actions 
had  but  been  agreeable  to  your  words,  I  should  have 
endeavored,  however  incapable  of  it,  to  have  returned 
you  suitable  thanks." 

Application. — Sincerity  is  a  most  beautiful  virtue ; 
but  there  are  some,  whose  natures  are  so  poor-spirited 
and  cowardly,  that  they  are  not  capable  of  exerting  it. 
Indeed,  unless  a  man  be  steady  and  constant  in  all  his 
actions,  he  will  hardly  deserve  the  name  of  sincere. 


THE   PICTURE   PREACHER. 


447 


THE  FOX  AND  THE  COUNTRYMAN. 


Make  thy  shadow  as  the  night  ....  the  noonday  /  hide  the 
outcasts ;   betray  not  him,  that  wandereth.     Let  mine   outcasts 

dwell  with  thee,     Isa.  xvi.  3,  4. Deceit  is  in  the  heart  of  them 

that  imagine  evil,     Prov.  xii.  20. Do  ye  not  according  to  their 

works  ;  for  they  say  and  do  not.     Matt,  xxiii.  3. Judah  hath 

dealt  treacherously  and  an  abomination  is  committed.     Mai.  ii 

11. 27i«  Lord  toiU  abhor  the  bloody  and  deceitful  man.    Psa. 

V.  6.  • 


\^  \  3  Fv  A  ^^ 

Ot    THR 


448  ROYAL   ROAD   TO   HAPPINESS;   OR 

An  open  enemy,  though  more  violent  and  terrible,  is 
not,  however,  so  odious  and  detestable  as  a  false  friend. 
To  pretend  to  keep  another's  counsel,  and  appear  in 
their  interest,  while  underhand  we  are  giving  intelli- 
gence to  their  enemies,  is  treacherous,  knavish,  and 
base.  There  are  some  people  in  the  world  very  dex- 
terous at  this  kind  of  defamation ;  and  can,  while  they 
seem  most  vehement  in  the  commendation  or  defence 
of  a  friend,  throw  out  a  hint  which  shall  stab  their  rep- 
utation deeper  than  the  most  malicious  weapon,  bran- 
dished at  them  in  a  public  manner,  could  have  been 
capable  of  doing. 


THE  HORSE  AND  LOADED  MULE 

An  idle  horse  and  a  mule  with  a  heavy  load  were 
traveling  on  the  road  together.  The  mule  becoming 
very  tired,  entreated  the  horse  to  assist  him,  by  taking 
part  of  the  load  on  his  back.  The  horse  was  ill-na- 
tured and  refused  to  do  it ;  upon  which  the  poor  mule 
tumbled  down  in  the  midst  of  the  highway,  and  expired 
in  an  instant.  The  countryman  ungirted  his  pack-sad- 
dle, and  tried  several  ways  to  relieve  him,  but  all  to  no 
purpose ;  which,  when  he  perceived,  he  took  the  whole 
burden  and  laid  it  upon  the  horse,  together  with  the 
skin  of  the  dead  mule;  so  that  the  horse,  by  his 
moroseness  in  refusing  to  do  a  small  kindness,  justly 
brought  upon  himself  a  great  inconvenience. 

Application. — Self-love  is  no  such  ill-principle,  if  it 
were  but  well  and  truly  directed ;  for  it  is  impossible 
that  any  man  should  love  himself  to  any  purpose,  who 
withdraws  his  assistance  from  his  friends  of  the  public, 
as  every  government  is  to  be  considered  as  a  body  pol- 
itic, and  every  man  who  lives  in  it,  as  a  member  of 
that  body.  Now,  to  carry  on  the  allegory,  no  member 
can  thrive  better,  than  when  they  all  jointly  unite  their 
endeavors  to  assist  and  improve  the  whole.     If  the  hand 


THE   PICTURE   PREACHER. 


449 


THE  HORSE  AND  LOADED  MULE. 


Looh  not  every  man  on  his  own  things^  hut  every  man  on  the 

things  of  others,     Phil.  ii.  4. Bear  ye  one  another'' s  burdens^ 

and  so  fulfill  the  law  of  Christ.     Gal.  vi.  2. Whoso  stoppeth 

his  ears  at  the  cry  of  the  poor ^  he  also  shall  cry  himself  hut  shall 

not  he  heard,     Prov.  xxi.  1 3. With  the  merciful  thou  wilt  show 

thyself  merciful^  with  the  f row  ard  thou  wilt  show  thy  self froward, 

Psa.  xviii.  25,  26. Inasmuch  as  ye  did  it  not  to  one  of  the  least 

of  these^  ye  did  it  not  to  me.    Matt.  xxv.  46. 


450  ROYAL    ROAD    TO    HAPPINESS;    OR 

were  to  refuse  its  assistance  in  procuring  food  for  the 
mouth,  they  must  both  starve  and  perish  together. 
And  when  those  who  are  parties  concerned  in  the  same 
community  deny  such  assistance  to  each  other,  as  the 
preservation  of  that  community  necessarily  requires, 
their  self-interestedness,  in  that  case,  is  ill-directed,  and 
will  have  a  quite  contrary  effect  from  what  they 
intended. 

How  many  people  are  so  senseless  as  to  think  it 
hard  that  there  should  be  any  taxes  in  the  nation  ! 
whereas,  were  there  to  be  none  indeed,  those  very  peo- 
ple would  be  undone  immediately.  That  little  prop- 
erty they  have  would  be  presently  plundered  by  for- 
eign or  domestic  enemies;  and  then  they  would  be 
glad  to  contribute  their  quota,  even  without  an  act  of 
the  government.  The  charges  of  supporting  a  govern- 
ment are  necessary  things,  and  easily  supplied  by  a 
due  and  well-proportioned  contribution.  But,  in  the 
narrower  and  more  confined  view,  to  be  ready  to  assist 
our  friends  upon  all  occasions,  is  not  only  good,  as  it  is 
an  act  of  humanity,  but  highly  discreet,  as  it  strength- 
ens our  interest,  and  gives  us  an  opportunity  of  light- 
ening the  burden  of  life. 


THE  HARE  AND  THE  TORTOISE. 

A  hare  insulted  a  tortoise  upon  account  of  his  slow- 
ness, and  vainly  boasted  of  her  own  great  speed  in 
running.  *^  Let  us  make  a  match,"  replied  the  tortoise ; 
**  I'll  run  with  you  five  miles  for  five  pounds."  The  hare 
agreed ;  and  away  they  both  started  together.  But 
the  hare,  by  reason  of  her  exceeding  swiftness  outran 
the  tortoise  to  such  a  degree,  that  she  made  a  jest  of 
the  matter ;  and  finding  herself  a  little  tired,  squatted 
in  a  tuft  of  fern  that  grew  by  the  way,  and  took  a 
nap ;  thinking,  that  if  the  tortoise  went  by,  she  could 
at  any  time  fetch  him  up,  with  all  the  ease  imaginable. 


THE   PICTURE   PREACHER. 


451 


THE  HARE  AND  THE  TORTOISE. 


I  returned  and  saw  under  the  sun,  that  the  race  is  no*,  to  the 

swi/t,  nor  the  battle  to  the  strong, nor  yet  favor  to  men  of 

skill ;  but  time  and  chance  happeneth  to  them  all.     Eccl.  ix.  11. 

He  becometh  poor  that  dealeth  with  a  slack  hand  ^  but  the 

hand  of  the  diligent  maketh  rich,     Prov.  x.  4. Let  us  run  with 

patience  the  race  that  is  set  before  us.     Heb.  xiii.  1. And  let 

us  not  be  weary  in  well  doing  ;  for  in  due  season  we  shall  reap  if 
we  faint  not.     Gal.  vi.  9. 


452        ROYAL  ROAD  TO  HAPPINESS;  OR  ' 

In  the  meanwhile  the  tortoise  came  jogging  on,  with 
a  slow  but  continued  motion ;  and  the  hare,  out  of  a 
too  great  security  and  confidence  of  victory,  oversleep- 
ing herself,  the  tortoise  arrived  at  the  end  of  the  race 
first. 

Application. — Industry  and  application  and  perse- 
verance in  business  make  amends  for  the  want  of  a 
quick  and  ready  wit.  Hence  it  is,  that  the  victory 
is  not  always  to  the  strong,  nor  the  race  to  the  swift. 
Men  of  fine  parts  are  apt  to  despise  the  drudgery  of 
business;  but  by  affecting  to  show  the  superiority  of  their 
genius,  upon  many  occasions,  they  run  into  too  great 
an  extreme  the  other  way  ;  and  the  administration  of 
their  affairs  is  ruined  hopelessly  through  idleness  and 
neglect. 

What  advantage  has  a  man  from  the  fertility  of  his 
invention  and  the  vivacity  of  his  imagination,  unless 
his  resolutions  are  executed  with  a  suitable  and  unin- 
terrupted rapidity  I  In  short,  your  men  of  wit  and 
fire,  as  they  are  called,  are  oftentimes  sots,  slovens,  and 
lazy  fellows ;  they  are  generally  proud  and  conceited, 
to  the  last  degree  ;  and  in  the  main,  not  the  fittest  per- 
sons for  either  conversation  or  business.  Such  is  their 
vanity,  they  think  the  sprightliness  of  their  humor  in- 
consistent with  a  plain,  sober  way  of  thinking  and 
speaking,  and  able  to  atone  for  all  the  little  neglects  of 
their  business  and  persons. 

But  the  world  will  not  be  thus  imposed  upon ;  the 
man  who  would  gain  the  esteem  of  others,  and  make 
his  own  fortune,  must  be  one  that  carries  his  point 
effectually,  and  finishes  his  course  without  swerving  or 
loitering.  Men  of  dull  parts  and  a  slow  apprehension, 
assisted  by  a  continued  diligence,  are  more  likely  to 
attain  this,  than  your  brisk  retailers  of  wit,  with  their 
affected  spleen  and  indolence ;  and  if  business  be  but 
well  done,  no  matter  whether  it  be  done  by  the  sallies 
of  a  refined  wit  or  the  considering  head  of  a  plain 
man. 


THE   PICTUKi;    PKEACUEK. 


453 


^^^^^"'•'^"^■^-^Sr^  T    a- - ••  -"•^^.^r, , - y • » •  •  ^\::::~-^T-*":^i^^^^'^^im^- 


THE  DOVE  AND  THE  ANT. 


With  the  merciful  thou  wilt  show  thyself  merciful,     II.  Siim. 

xxiL  26. Put  them  in  mind  to  he  ready  to  every  good  work, 

Titus  iii.  1. With  what  measure  ye  mete,  it  shall  be  measured 

to  you  again.     Matt.  vii.  2. Blessed  is  he  that  considereth  the 

poor;  the  Lord  will  deliver  him  in  time  of  trouble.     The  Lord 
will  preserve  him  and  keep  him  alive,    Psa.  xli.  1,  2. 


454  EOYAL   ROAD   TO   HAPPINESS;   OR 

THE   DOVE  AND  THE  ANT. 

An  ant,  compelled  by  thirst  went  to  drink  in  a 
stream  of  water,  but  the  cun-ent  with  its  circling  eddy- 
bore  her  away.  A  dove  pitying  her  distressing  situa- 
tion, dropped  a  twig  from  a  neighboring  tree,  and  let 
it  fall  into  the  water,  by  which  means  the  ant  saved 
herself  and  got  ashore.  Not  long  afterward,  a  hunter 
searching  for  game,  discovered  the  dove  alighting  on  a 
tree  standing  near  the  spot  where  the  ant  had  reached 
shore.  The  ant  saw  the  hunter  as  he  was  aiming  a  deadly 
shot  at  her  benefactor,  whereupon  she  suddenly  ran  up 
on  the  ankle  of  the  hunter  and  gave  him  such  a  bite 
as  to  cause  him  to  give  a  start ;  his  gun  missed  fire, 
when  the  dove  took  the  alarm  and  flew  away. 

Application. — The  foregoing  fable  shows  the  quick 
fulfillment  of  divine  promise  to  an  act  of  mercy. 
"Blessed  are  the  merciful,  for  they  shall  obtain 
mercy."  It  is  worthy  of  note  that  it  was  given  in  a 
most  unexpected  manner,  and  apparently  by  a  most 
insignificant  and  feeble  instrument. 

The  dove  out  of  pure  compassion  saved  the  poor 
little  ant  from  death,  not  expecting  any  return  for  his 
kindness,  doubtless  supposing  that  it  was  impossible 
that  such  a  little  creature  could  render  him  any  favor 
or  assistance  whatever.  But  it  is  shown  by  the  fable 
that  the  Almighty  can  as  easily  save  by  an  ant  as  by 
an  elephant. 

Mercy,  in  many  places  in  Holy  Writ,  is  an  attri- 
bute of  Deity,  extending  to  all  the  creatures  he  has 
made.  "  Doth  God  care  for  oxen  ?"  Yes  !  verily,  for 
not  a  sparrow  falls  to  the  ground  without  his  notice. 
Man,  who  was  created  in  the  image  of  his  Creator,  is 
called  upon  to  imitate  God,  by  being  merciful  even  to 
the  beasts  under  him. 

**  The  bright  and  shining  piece  of  morality"  (says 
Archdeacon  Croxhall,  in  his  application,  or  comment, 
on  this  fable),    "  which  is  recomtmended  to  us  in  this 


\  ^  '*  '^  n  Y 
OT  THB 


THE   PICTURE   PREACHER. 


THE  MATRON  AND  HER  MAIDa 


Servants  h^,  obedient  to  your  own  masters,  according  to  the  flesh 
»  .  .  ,  in  singleness  of  heart  as  imto  Christ ....  doing  the  will  of 
God  from,  the  heart  with  good  will  doing  service  as  to  the  Lord. 

Eph.  vi.  5,  6,  7. Be  not  overcome  of  evil,  but  overcome  evil 

with  good.     Rom.  xii,  21. Servants  be  subject  to  your  masters 

with  fear,  not  only  to  the  good  and  gentle,  but  also  to  the  froward. 

I.  Pet.  iL  18. 1  have  learned  in  whatsoever  state  I  am^  therer 

with  to  he  content.    PhiL  iv.  11. 


456  ROYAL   ROAD   TO   HAPPINESS;   OR 

fable  is  set  forth  in  this  example  of  the  dove,  who 
without  any  obligation  or  expectation,  does  a  volun- 
tary office  of  charity  to  its  fellow  creature  in  distress." 
If  such  services  may  be  rendered  by  dumb  animals, 
how  much  more  shall  man  render  to  man. 


THE  MATRON  AND  HER  MAIDS. 

A  certain  matron  had  several  maids  whom  she  used 
to  call  up  to  their  work,  every  morning,  at  the  crow- 
ing of  the  cock.  The  young  women,  who  found  it 
grievous  to  have  their  sweet  sleep  disturbed  so  early, 
combined  together,  and  killed  the  cock,  thinking  that 
when  ihe  alarm  was  gone,  they  might  enjoy  themselves 
in  their  warm  beds  a  little  longer.  The  matron,  grieved 
for  the  loss  of  her  cock,  and  having  discovered  the 
whole  plot,  was  resolved  to  be  even  with  them ;  for, 
from  that  time,  she  obliged  them  to  rise  constantly  at 
midnight. 

Application. — It  can  never  be  expected  that  things 
should  be  in  all  respects  agreeable  to  our  wishes  ;  and 
if  they  are  not  very  bad  indeed,  we  ought  in  many 
cases  to  be  contented  with  them ;  lest  when,  through 
impatience,  we  precipitately  quit  our  present  condition 
of  life,  we  may  to  our  sorrow  find,  with  the  old  say- 
ing, that  seldom  comes  a  better.  Before  we  attempt 
any  alteration  of  moment,  we  should  be  certain  what 
state  it  will  produce ;  for  when  things  are  already  bad, 
to  make  them  worse  by  trying  experiments,  is  an  evi- 
dence of  great  weakness  and  folly,  and  is  sure  to  be 
attended  with  too  late  repentance.  Grievances,  if 
really  such,  ought  by  all  means  to  be  redressed,  pro- 
vided we  can  be  sure  of  doing  it  with  success.  But 
we  had  better,  at  any  time,  bear  with  some  inconven- 
iences, than  to  make  our  condition  worse,  by  attempt- 
ing to  mend  it 


THE   PICTURE    PREACHER.  457 

NECESSITY  OF  PRECAUTION. 

That  "an  ounce  of  prevention  is  worth  a  pound  of 
cure,"  is  an  old  and  true  proverb,  which  is  appHcable 
alike  to  a  multitude  of  cases ;  the  ills  and  misfortunes 
we  suffer  or  which  overtake  us,  are  in  a  large  proportion, 
either  of  our  own  procurement,  or  such  as  might  have 
been  prevented  by  timely  care  and  precaution. 

The  prefixed  engraving  shows  one  form  of  the  evil 
of  not  using  the  precaution  necessary  in  attending  to 
our  every  day  affairs.  The  bars  which  close  the 
entrance  to  a  field  of  valuable  vegetables  have  been 
let  down,  or  so  slightly  put  up,  that  the  cattle  find  but 
little  difficulty  in  getting  in,  where  they  do  much  dam- 
age in  a  short  time,  before  they  can  be  driven  out 

Many  of  our  mishaps,  or  misfortunes,  as  we  call 
them,  spring  from  imprudence  or  neglect.  Through 
the  neglect  of  a  small  leak  a  ship  is  sunk,  and  its  crew 
perhaps  lost.  The  neglect  of  a  few  feet  of  fence  may 
destroy  a  crop,  and  so  may  a  few  days^  negligence  and 
sloth  in  seed  time  or  harvest.  Angry  law-suits,  and 
heavy  pecuniary  losses,  not  unfrequently  might  have 
been  prevented  by  a  seasonable  attention  that  would 
have  required  very  little  of  time  or  labor.  Some 
plunge  themselves  into  inextricable  embarrassment, 
which  might  have  been  avoided  had  a  portion  of  their 
leisure  been  devoted  to  the  devising  of  a  reasonable 
plan  of  living ;  and  others  again  are  impoverished  and 
devoured  by  artificial  wants,  of  which  they  might 
easily  have  prevented  the  intrusion. 

But  that  which  is  of  the  most  importance  by  many 
degrees,  is  yet  behind.  There  are  means  preventional 
of  moral,  as  well  as  of  natural  evil.  Most  of  the  vices 
that  infest  society,  and  bring  utter  ruin  upon  individu- 
als, are  more  easy  of  prevention  than  of  cure ;  and  it  is 
to  be  hoped  that  the  time  is  coming  when  civil  govern- 
ments, blending  Christian  morals  with  state  policy,  will 
employ  their  power  and  influence  fully  as  much  to  pre- 


458 


BOYAL   ROAD   TO   HAPPINESS;    OB 


NECESSITY  OF  PRECAUTION. 


Be  thou  diligent  to  hnow  the  state  of  thy  flocks  and  look  well  to 

thy  herds.     Pro  v.  xxvii.  23. 1  went  by  the  field  of  the  slothful 

.  .  .  .  and  lo  ,  ,  ,  .  the  stone  wall  thereof  was  broken  down*     Prov, 

xxiv.  30,  31. J3e  that  will  love  life  and  see  good  days^  let  him 

.  .  .  .  eschew  evil  and  do  good,  seek  peace  and  ensue  it.     I.  Pet.  iii. 

10,  11. JBe  sober,  be  vigilant,  because  your  adversary 

walketh  about.    L  Pet.  v.  8. The  rod  and  reproof  give  wisdom^ 

.  ,  .  correct  thy  son  and  he  shall  give  thee  rest.     Pro  v.  xxix.  15, 17. 


THE    PICTURE    PREACHER.  459 

vent  crime  as  to  punish  it.     That  would  be  an  era  more 
happy  than  language  can  describe. 

Inconsiderate  parents  are  apt  to  think,  and  do  some- 
times say,  that  time  will  cure  the  faults  of  their  children. 
This  is  a  sad  and  fatal  mistake.  Not  but  that  time 
perchance  may  cure  the  minor  follies  and  errors  of  the 
juvenile  mind;  but  immoral  propensities  are  strength- 
ened, rather  than  cured,  by  time,  which  matures  them 
into  fixed  habits.  The  bias  to  lying,  profaneness, 
defrauding,  or  whatever  immorality  else,  is  not  so  very 
hard  to  cure  when  it  first  appears  in  the  child ;  but  if 
it  be  neglected  then,  it  grows  into  an  inveterate  habit 
in  the  man. 

The  most  important  object  of  domestic  government, 
is  so  to  train  up  children  that  they  may  have  a  due 
government  of  themselves  when  they  shall  come  to  be 
full  grown  men  and  women.  This  is  a  point  on  which 
the  worth  or  worthlessness  of  character  entirely  depends. 

Very  sad  results  often  occur  from  persons  when  in 
full  health,  from  neglecting  to  make  their  wills,  by 
which  cruel  neglect,  young  children  and  old,  feeble 
people  are  often  brought  to  deep  poverty  and  suffering. 
The  same  applies  to  the  neglect  of  taking  receipts  in 
important  transactions,  and  promptly  putting  upon 
record  deeds  of  property.  To  persons  of  means,  the 
writing  of  their  names  in  the  middle  of  a  sheet  of  paper, 
is  a  dangerous  operation,  unless  it  be  immediately 
destroyed. 

Tallyrand,  the  celebrated  French  statesman,  so  noted 
for  his  cunning  and  shrewdness,  was  once  asked  by  a 
beautiful  lady  to  honor  her  album  with  his  signature. 
He  thought  for  a  moment,  and  then  very  politely  com- 
plied with  her  request.  As  he  was  then  at  the  head  of 
the  French  Treasury,  there  might  have  been  written  over 
it  an  order  for  a  million  of  francs,  which  probably  would 
have  been  duly  honored,  as  the  signature  was  genuine ; 
but  for  the  single  circumstance  that  he  had  taken  the 
precaution  to  write  his  name  at  the  very  top  of  the  page  ! 


460  BOYAL   ROAD    TO    HAPPINESS;    OK 

TKUTH  AND  COURAGE. 

*'  Dare  to  be  true  ;  nothing  can  need  a  lie ; 
The  fault  that  needs  it  most,  grows  two  thereby." 

It  requires  courage  always  to  speak  the  truth.  And 
hence,  in  the  14th  and  15th  centuries,  commonly 
termed  the  age  of  chivalry,  the  two  points  of  honor,  in 
the  male  sex,  were  valor  and  veracity  ;  particularly  a 
steadfast  adherence  to  plighted  faith,  or  one's  word  and 
promise :  lying,  or  falsehood,  being  considered  as  in- 
dicative of  cowardice,  and  abhorred  rather  for  its 
meanness  than  for  its  moral  turpitude.  Accordingly, 
the  chivalrous  knights,  while  little  regarding  any  part 
else  of  the  second  table  of  the  holy  decalogue,  and 
least  of  all  the  sixth,  seventh  and  tenth  commandments, 
would,  nevertheless,  suffer  any  pains  and  penalties  in 
preference  to  the  imputation  of  word  breaking,  lying, 
or  prevarication.  In  the  old  romance,  Amadis  de  Gaul, 
King  Lisuarte  being  reduced  to  the  dire  alternative  of 
breaking  his  word,  or  delivering  up  his  daughter  into 
the  hands  of  an  utter  stranger ;  he  is  represented  as 
exclaiming,  ^^My  daughter  must  fare  as  God  hath  ap- 
pointed ;  but  my  word  shall  never  be  wilfully  broken." 

The  age  of  chivalry  is  long  since  past ;  but  some  of 
its  relics  have  floated  down  the  stream  of  time,  and  are 
visible  even  at  the  present  instant.  In  some  of  the 
high  circles  of  fashion,  valor  and  veracity  are  con- 
sidered not  merely  as  indispensable  requisites  of  a 
gentleman,  but  as  almost  the  only  points  of  honor  that 
are  necessary  to  his  character.  A  man  may  be  a  blas- 
phemer of  Grod  and  religion,  a  notorious  profligate,  an 
inmate  of  the  brothel,  a  seducer  of  female  virtue  ;  he 
may  be  all  this,  and  yet  rank  high  as  a  gentleman ;  he 
may  be  all  this,  and  yet  be  received  into  what  fashion 
calls  good  company,  with  as  cordial  welcome  as  if  his 
character  were  white  as  the  driven  snow.  But  if  he 
lie  under  the  imputation  either  of  direct  cowardice,  or 
of  the   indirect  cowardice  of  uttering  a  wilful  false- 


THE    PICTURE    PREACHER.  461 

hood,  he  is  despised,  banished,  and  proscribed,  as  unfit 
for  the  company  of  ladies  and  gentlemen.  For  wliich 
reason,  a  man  of  this  sort  of  high  fashion,  when 
charged  directly  or  by  implication,  of  being  a  coward, 
or  a  liar,  finds  his  chivalrous  spirit  roused,  and  lifted 
to  the  highest  pitch.  Call  him  a  foe  to  God,  a  debau- 
chee, a  violator  of  the  connubial  ties,  and  he  is  able  to 
laugh  it  off;  for  it  does  in  no  wise  touch  his  honor; 
but  call  him  a  coward,  or  a  liar,  and  he  thinks  nothing 
but  your  blood  can  wash  away  the  stain. 

Apart,  however,  from  the  notions  of  chivalry,  the 
vice  of  lying  ranks  among  the  meanest  of  vices.  It  is 
the  vice  of  slaves.  It  is  the  vice  that  chiefly  abounds 
among  nations  in  political  slavery,  and  with  that  low 
and  wretched  class  of  our  fellow  beings  who  are  in 
personal  bondage.  Slavish  fear  prompts  them  to  pre- 
varicate and  lie,  as  it  were  in  self-defence.  Speaking 
the  truth,  is  one  of  the  easiest  things  in  the  world ;  for 
it  is  merely  the  expression  of  one's  own  perceptions,  or 
of  what  lies  clearly  in  his  memory.  The  veriest  child, 
that  has  attained  the  use  of  the  organs  of  speech,  is 
capable  of  this.  Whereas  to  speak  falsehood,  requires 
eff'ort  and  art.  Falsehood  is  fiction,  and  needs  inven- 
tion and  contrivance,  so  to  frame  and  fashion  it  as  to 
make  it  bear  the  semblance  of  truth. 

Lying,  even  in  its  simplest  and  most  inoffensive 
forms,  is  by  no  means  free  of  all  mischief.  Confidence 
is  the  cement,  or  rather  the  main  pillar  of  society. 
Without  it  friendship  is  but  a  name,  and  social  inter- 
course a  soii;  of  war  in  disguise. 

If  habitual  liars  could  fully  realize  the  nmtfterahle 
loathing  the  very  sight  or  thought  of  them  often  occa- 
sions, some  of  them  would  feel  like  going  out  and 
hanging  themselves. 

Pie  that  is  inflexibly  truthful  is  a  power  in  any  com- 
munity. He  commands  respect  and  can  walk  upright 
under  the  sun  of  heaven,  the  peer  of  the  mightiest^ 
and  respected  by  all. 


462 


BOYAL   ROAD   TO   HAPPINESS:   OK 


.^'^^V.iO    i. 


^W/  Ingratitude^lnsultjnjuiy- 


^^^^^etcLmltig  evil  ihr  0Cow,W^- 


THE  OLD  HOUND. 


For  (u  he  thinketh  in  his  hearty  so  is  he.    Pro  v.  xxiii.  7. 

Cast  me  not  off  in  the  time  of  old  age^  forsake  me  not  when  my 

strength  faileth,  Psa.  Ixxi.  9. The  king  of  the  Chaldees  .  .  .  had 

no  compassion  idpon^ .  ,  ,  ,  or  old  man^  or  him  that  stoopeth  for 

age,     II.  Chron.  xxxvi.  17. A  righteous  man  regardeth  the  life 

of  his  beast;  but  the  tender  mercies  of  the  wicked  are  cruel,    Prov, 
xii.  10, 


THE    PICTURE    PREACHER.  463 


THE  OLD  HOUND. 


An  old  hound,  who  had  been  an  excellent  one  in  his 
time,  and  given  his  master  great  sport  and  satisfaction 
in  many  a  chase,  at  last,  by  the  effect  of  years,  became 
feeble  and  unserviceable.  However,  being  in  the  field 
one  day  when  the  stag  was  almost  run  down,  he  hap- 
pened to  be  the  first  that  came  in  with  him,  and  seized 
him  by  one  of  his  haimches ;  but  his  decayed  and 
broken  teeth  not  being  able  to  keep  their  hold,  the 
deer  escaped  and  threw  him  quite  out.  Upon  wliich, 
his  master,  being  in  a  great  passion,  and  going  to  strike 
him,  the  honest  old  creature  is  said  to  have  barked  out 
this  apology:  ^^Ah!  do  not  strike  your  poor  old  ser- 
vant; it  is  not  my  heart  and  inclination,  but  my 
strength  and  speed  that  fail  me.  If  what  I  now  am 
displeases,  pray  don't  forget  what  I  have  been." 

Application. — This  fable  may  serve  to  give  us  a 
general  view  of  the  ingratitude  of  the  greatest  part  of 
mankind.  Notwithstanding  all  the  civility  and  com- 
plaisance that  is  used  among  people,  where  there  is  a 
common  intercourse  of  business,  yet,  let  the  main 
spring,  the  probability  of  their  being  serviceable  to 
each  other,  either  in  point  of  pleasure  or  profit,  be  but 
once  broken,  and  farewell  courtesy ;  so  far  from  con- 
tinuing any  regard  in  behalf  of  past  favors,  it  is  very 
well  if  they  forbear  doing  anything  that  is  injurious. 
If  the  master  had  only  ceased  to  caress  and  make 
much  of  the  old  hound  when  he  was  past  doing  any 
service,  it  had  not  been  very  strange ;  but  to  treat  a 
poor  creature  ill,  not  for  a  failure  of  inclination,  but 
merely  a  defect  of  nature,  must,  notwithstanding  the 
crowd  of  examples  there  are  to  countenance  it,  be  pro- 
nounced inhuman  and  unreasonable. 

There  are  two  accounts  upon  which  people  that  have 
been  useful  are  frequently  neglected.  One,  when  they 
are  so  decayed,  either  through  age  or  some  accident, 
that  they  are  no  longer  able  to  do  the  service  they 


464 


BOYAL   ROAD   TO   HAPPINESS;    OR 


THE  WOLF,  FOX  AND  APE. 


Wayfaring  men,  thoug/i  fools,  shall  not  err  therein.  Isa.  xxxv.  8. 

With  a  double  tongue  do  they  speak,    Psa.  xii.  2. Woe  unto 

them  that  call  evil  goody  and  good  evil;  that  put  darkness  for 
light,  and  light  for  darkness;  that  put  hitter  for  siceet,  and  sweet 

for  hitter.     Isa.  v.  20. A  froward  man  eoweth  strife,     Prov. 

xvL  28. A  false  witness  shall  perish,    Prov.  xxi.  28. A 

good  name  is  rather  to  be  chosen  than  great  riches.    Prov.  xxii.  1. 


THE    PICTURE    PREACHER.  465 

have  formerly  done ;  the  other,  when  the  occasion  or 
emergency  which  required  such  talents  no  longer  exists. 
Phsedrus,  who  more  than  once  complains  of  the  bad 
consequences  of  age,  makes  no  other  application  to 
this  fable,  than  by  telling  his  friend  Philetus,  with  some 
regret,  that  he  wrote  it  with  a  view,  having  it  seems 
been  repaid  with  neglect  or  worse  us^ge,  for  services 
done  in  his  youth,  to  those  who  were  then  able  to  afford 
him  a  better  recompense. 


THE  WOLF,   FOX  AND  APE. 

The  wolf  accused  the  fox  of  felony,  before  the  ape, 
who,  upon  that  occasion,  was  appointed  special  judge 
of  the  cause.  The  fox  gave  in  his  answer  to  the  wolf's 
accusation,  and  denied  the  fact.  So,  after  a  fair  hear- 
ing on  both  sides,  the  ape  gave  judgment-  to  this  pur- 
pose:— ^*I  am  of  opinion  that  you,"  says  he  to  the 
wolf,  '^ never  lost  the  goods  you  sue  for;  and  as  for 
you,"  turning  to  the  fox,  ^^I  make  no  question,"  said 
he,  ^^but  you  have  stolen  what  is  laid  to  your  charge, 
at  least."  And  thus  tlie  court  was  dismissed,  with  this 
public  censure  passed  upon  each  party. 

Application. — A  man  that  has  once  blemished  his 
credit  by  knavery,  will  not  be  believed  for  the  future, 
even  though  he  should  speak  the  truth.  One  would 
think  the  consideration  of  this  should  be  some  obstruc 
tion  to  lying  and  cheating,  and  a  discouragement  to  the 
professors  of  that  faculty.  Cheating  and  knavery  may 
now  and  then  succeed  and  pass  muster  with  the  undis- 
ceming ;  but  the  contrivers  are  liable  to  be  detected 
and  exposed,  even  by  the  simple  crew  which  they  prac- 
tice upon.  A  knave  has  a  chance  of  succeeding  once 
or  twice,  and  that  with  the  most  foolish  pai-t  of  man- 
kind ;  whereas  an  honest  man  is  sure  of  being  con- 
stantly trusted  and  well  esteemed,  and  that  by  all  wise 
and  good  people. 

20* 


466  fiOYAL   KOAD   TO   HAPPINESS;   OB 

THE    SPENDTHRIFT    AND    THE   SWALLOW. 

A  prodigal  young  spendthrift  who  wasted  his  whole 
patrimony  in  variety  shows  and  at  the  gaming  table, 
among  lewd,  silly-minded  people,  was  taking  a  melan- 
choly walk  near  a  brook.  It  was  in  the  month  of  Jan- 
uary; and  happened  to  be  one  of  those  warm,  sun- 
shiny days  which  sometimes  smile  upon  us  even  in  that 
wintry  season,  and  to  make  it  the  more  flattering,  a 
swallow  which  had  made  his  appearance  by  mistake 
too  soon,  flew  skimming  along  upon  the  surface  of  the 
water. 

The  giddy  youth  observing  this,  without  any  farther 
consideration  concluded  that  warm  weather  had  come, 
and  that  he  should  have  little  or  no  occasion  for  his 
overcoat,  went  and  pawned  that  and  other  of  his  thick 
garments  to  raise  more  money,  which  in  turn  went  the 
same  as  the  other.  Then  after  he  had  become  reduced 
almost  to  rags,  he  took  another  solitary  walk  in  the 
same  place  as  before.  But  the  weather  being  severe 
and  frosty,  had  made  everything  look  with  a  different 
aspect  from  what  it  did.  The  brook  was  frozen  over 
and  the  poor  swallow  lay  dead  upon  the  bank  of  it ; 
the  very  sight  of  which  cooled  the  young  spark's  brains. 
Coming  to  a  kind  of  sense  of  his  misery  as  he  stood 
there  ragged  and  shivering,  he  reproached  the  deceased 
bird  as  the  author  of  all  his  misfortunes.  *^Ah! 
wretch  that  thou  wert !"  says  he,  "  thou  hast  undone 
both  thyself  and  me,  who  was  so  credulous  as  to 
depend  upon  thee." 

Application. — They  who  frequent  variety  shows 
and  gaming  houses  and  keep  dissolute  company, 
should  not  wonder  if  they  came  in  a  very  short  time 
to  grief  The  wretched  young  fellows  who  once  addict 
themselves  to  such  a  scandalous  kind  of  life,  seem  to 
have  nothing  else  in  their  heads  but  to  idle  their  time 
and  squander  their  money.  They  do  not  make  the  use 
of  their  reasoning  that  other  people  do,  but  like  the 


THE  SPENDTHRIFT  AND  THE  SWALLOW. 


Go  to  tTbe  ant,  ....  co7isider  her  ways,  ....  provideth  Iter  meat 
in  the  summer  and  gathereth  her  food  in  the  harvest.     Pro  v.  vi. 

6,  8. B.e  that  tilleth  his  land  shall  have  plenty  of  bread  ;  hut 

he  that  followeth  after  vain  persons  shall  have  poverty  enough, 

Prov.  xxviiL  19. He  hecometh  poor  that  dealeth  with  a  slack 

hand  ^  .  ,  , »  he  that  sleepeth  in  harvest  is  a  son  that  causeth  sham,e, 

Prov.  X.  4,  5. The  sluggard  will  not  plough  by  reason  of  the 

cold  ^  therefore  shall  he  beg  iii  harvest  and  have  nothing.     Prov. 

XX.  4. The  drunkard  and  the  ghitton  shall  come  to  poverty, 

Prov.  xxiiL  21, 


468  BOYAL   ROAD   TO   HAPPINESS;   OR 

jaundiced  eye  view  everything  in  that  false  light  which 
their  distemper  and  debauchery  represent  it  But  they 
find  they  have  to  reap  as  they  have  sowed,  when  they 
become  filled  with  remorse  and  vexation.  They 
worked  for  penury,  and  the  pity  and  the  contempt  of 
the  industrious  and  sober-minded,  and  got  it.  Verily, 
the  way  of  the  transgressor  is  hard. 


THE  LION,   BEAR,  APE  AND  FOX. 

The  lion  having  called  some  of  his  subjects  together 
for  some  special  business,  found  in  the  audience  assem- 
bled the  bear,  the  ape  and  the  fox.  The  bear,  who 
was  noted  for  his  ill-manners  and  insolence,  when  in 
company  with  his  fellow-subjects,  had  the  audacity 
even  to  hold  his  nose  when  in  the  immediate  presence 
of  his  majesty.  He  said  nothing,  but  his  act  spoke  as 
loud  as  words  could  utter,  that  the  scent  on  the  royal 
grounds  was  so  bad  that  he  could  not  endure  it.  The 
lion  was  so  angered  at  the  insult  thus  given  him  that 
with  one  stroke  of  his  paw,  he  knocked  the  bear  sense- 
less to  the  earth. 

The  monkey  seeing  the  prostrated  condition  of  the 
bear,  became  somewhat  alarmed  for  his  personal  safety; 
he  began  immediately  to  utter  his  excited  protestations 
against  the  action  of  the  bear,  declared  that  he  shared 
none  of  his  opinions,  and  he  must  say  that  when  he 
came  into  his  majesty's  presence  it  seemed  like  coming 
into  a  garden  of  roses  and  other  sweet-smelling  plants. 
He  continued  in  this  strain  for  a  while,  till  the  lion  was 
so  annoyed  by  this  fulsome  flattery  that  he  told  him  to 
stop  speaking,  that  he  need  not  speak  till  he  had  been 
called  to  express  his  opinion,  but  if  he  attempted  to  do 
it  without  permission,  he  would  kick  him  off  the  prem- 
ises. 

The  fox  was  then  asked  if  he  had  experienced  any 


THE  PICTURE   PREACHER. 


469 


THE  LION,  BEAR,  APE  AND  FOX. 


Charity  suffereth  long, Doth  not  behave  itself  unseemly, 

L  Cor.  xiii.  4,  5. The  churl ....  deviseth  wicked  devices,     Isa. 

xxiL  7. Fear  God,    Honor  the  king,     Servants  be  subject  to 

your  masters,     I,  Pet.  ii.  17,  18. They  flatter  with  their  tongue, 

Psa.  V.  9. See  that  ye  walk  circumspectly,  not  as  fools,  but  as 

wise.    Eph.  v.  15. A  prudent  manforseeth  the  evil  and  hideth 

himself    Prov.  xxiL  3, 


470  EOYAL    ROAD    TO    HAPPINESS;   OR 

SecuHar  or  offensive  odor  when  on  the  king's  ground, 
leynard  taking  in  the  situation  of  affairs,  with  his 
accustomed  prudence,  replied  that  recently  he  had 
caught  a  severe  cold,  which  prevented  him  from  having 
any  knowledge,  and  consequently  could  give  no  opin- 
ion on  the  subject. 

A  decent  respect  should  be  shown  to  all  who  are 
entrusted  with  civil  office,  to  carry  out  and  enforce  laws 
for  the  public  good.  The  office-holder  may  not  be  of 
our  party,  and  we  may  not  have  personal  respect  for 
him  as  a  man,  but  we  are  to  have  a  proper  respect  for 
him  as  an  officer.  In  fact,  he  is  God's  minister, 
appointed  ^^to  be  a  terror  to  evil-doers,  and  he  beareth 
not  the  sword  in  vain;''  any  insult  to  him,  or  any 
attempt  to  degrade  him,  as  long  as  he  is  in  office,  is 
injurious  to  the  well-being  of  society. 

In  our  intercourse  with  mankind  we  see  and  hear 
many  things  of  which  it  will  do  no  good  to  express  our 
opinions.  Whatever  may  be  our  private  views  of 
many  things  which  come  to  our  knowledge,  it  is  neither 
wise  nor  prudent  to  speak  of  them  to  others,  much  less 
give  our  personal  opinion. 


THE  SOUL  OF  MAN. 

[From  {he  Economy  of  Human  Life.] 

The  blessings,  O  man !  of  thy  external  part,  are 
health,  vigor,  and  proportion.  The  greatest  of  these 
is  health.  What  health  is  to  the  body,  even  so  is  hon- 
esty to  the  soul. 

That  thou  hast  a  soul,  is  of  all  knowledge  the  most 
certain,  of  all  truths  the  most  plain  unto  thee.  Be 
meek,  be  grateful  for  it.  Seek  not  to  know  it  perfectly. 
It  is  inscrutable. 

Thinking,  understanding,  reasoning,  willing,  call  not 
these  tlie  soul.     They  are  its  actions,  but  not  its  essence. 


THE    PICTURE    PREACHER.  471 

Raise  it  not  too  high,  that  thou  be  not  despised.  Be 
not  thou  hke  unto  those  that  fall  by  climbing,  neither 
debase  it  to  the  sense  of  brutes ;  nor  be  thou  like  to 
the  horse  and  the  mule,  in  whom  there  is  no  under- 
standing. 

Search  it  by  its  faculties,  know  it  by  its  virtues. 
They  are  more  in  number  than  the  hairs  of  thine  head; 
the  stars  of  heaven  are  not  at  all  to  be  counted  with 
them. 

Think  not  with  Arabia,  that  one  soul  is  parted  among 
all  men ;  nor  believe  thou  with  the  sons  of  Egypt,  that 
every  man  hath  many ;  know,  that  as  thy  heart,  so  also 
thy  soul  is  one. 

Doth  not  the  sun  harden  the  clay  ?  doth  it  not  also 
soften  the  wax  ?  As  it  is  one  sun  that  worketh  both, 
even  so  it  is  one  soul  that  willeth  contraries. 

As  the  moon  retaineth  her  nature,  though  darkness 
spread  itself  before  her  face  as  a  curtain ;  so  the  soul 
remaineth  perfect  even  in  the  bosom  of  a  fool. 

She  is  immortal ;  she  is  unchangeable ;  she  is  alike 
in  all.  Health  calleth  her  forth  to  show  her  loveliness, 
and  application  anointeth  her  with  the  oil  of  wisdom. 

Although  she  shall  live  after  thee,  think  not  she  was 
born  before  thee.  She  was  created  with  thy  flesh,  and 
formed  with  thy  brain. 

Justice  could  not  give  her  to  thee  exalted  by  virtues, 
nor  mercy  deliver  her  to  thee  deformed  by  vices. 
These  must  be  thine,  and  thou  nuist  answer  them. 

Suppose  not  death  can  shield  thee  from  examination; 
think  not  corruption  can  hide  thee  from  inquiry.  He 
who  formed  thee  of  thou  knowest  not  what,  can  he  not 
raise  thee  from  thou  knowest  not  what  again  ? 

Perceiveth  not  the  cock  the  hour  of  midnight? 
Exalteth  he  not  his  voice  to  tell  thee  it  is  morning  ? 
Knoweth  not  the  dog  the  footsteps  of  his  master  ?  and 
flieth  not  the  wounded  goat  to  the  herb  that  healeth 
him  ?  Yet  when  these  die,  their  spirit  returneth  to  the 
dust :  thine  alone  surviveth. 


472 


BOYAL   ROAD   TO   HAPPINESS;   OR 


ST.  JOHN  AND  THE  BOBBER. 


That  was  the  true  lights  which  Ughteth  every  man  that  cometh 

into  the  world,     John  i.  2. There  is  a  spirit  in  man^  and  the 

inspiration  of  the  Almighty  giveth  them  understanding.     Job. 

xxxii.  8. God  is  no  res2:>ecter  of  persons^  hut  in  every  nation  he 

that  feareth  him  andworketh  righteousness^  is  accepted  with  him. 

Acts  X.  34,  35. For  whosoever  shall  call  upon  the  name  of  the 

Lord  shall  he  saved,    Rom.  x.  13. Let  us  love  one  another  , .  . 

for  God  is  love,    L  John  iv.  7,  8. 


THE   PICTURE    PREACHER.  473 

ST.  JOHN  AND  THE  ROBBER. 

Eusebius,  one  of  the  ancient  liistorians  of  the  church, 
states  that  St.  John,  during  his  ministration  to  the  west- 
ern churches,  cast  his  eye  upon  a  young  man,  remark- 
able for  tlie  extent  of  his  knowledge  and  the  ingenu- 
ousness of  his  mind.  The  aged  apostle  thought  he  had 
discovered  in  him  a  useful  instrument  for  the  propagat- 
ing of  Christianity;  accordingly  he  took  particular 
pains  for  his  conversion,  and  to  instruct  him  in  the 
divine  doctrines  of  his  great  Master ;  and  that  he  might 
be  still  better  acquainted  with  the  system  of  Cliristian- 
ity,  at  his  departure  he  recommended  him  to  the  care 
of  a  pious  old  father  who  had  some  authority  in  the 
infant  church. 

The  youth  continued  awhile  in  the  duties  of  his  new 
profession,  and  with  care  attended  to  the  lectures  of 
his  venerable  tutor.  But  his  former  associates,  when 
they  found  themselves  deserted  by  him,  were  grieved 
at  the  success  of  the  apostle,  and  exerted  their  utmost 
efforts  to  regain  so  useful  and  entertaining  a  compan- 
ion. They  succeeded  in  their  attempts ;  the  father  was 
forsaken,  and  his  pupil  plunged  deep  into  irregularity 
and  vice.  The  apostle,  after  some  time,  returned  to 
those  parts ;  and  *^  where,"  said  he  with  impatience  to 
his  aged  friend,  *^ where  is  my  favorite  youth?" 
*^Alas!"  replied  the  good  old  man,  with  tears  in  his 
eyes,  ^^he  is  fallen,  irrecoverably  fallen !  he  has  for- 
saken the  society  of  saints,  and  is  now  a  leader  of  a 
gang  of  robbers  in  the  neighboring  mountains." 

Upon  hearing  this  unexpected  and  sad  account,  the 
apostle  forgot  his  sufferings  and  years,  and  hastened  to 
the  place  of  rendezvous,  where  being  seized  by  one  of 
the  band,  he  desired  to  speak  to  their  captain.  The 
captain  being  told  that  a  strange  pilgrim  desired  to  be 
admitted  to  him,  ordered  him  to  be  brought  before 
him;  but  when  he  beheld  the  venerable  apostle,  his 
hopes   of  amusement   sunk,   and   were    changed   into 


474 


ROYAL   ROAD   TO   HAPPINESS;   OB 


THE  MISCHIEVOUS  DOG. 


When  pride  cometh^  there  cometh  shame.     Prov.  xi.  2. The 

unjust  knoweth  no  shame,     Zeph.  iii.  6. Shame  shall  he  the 

promotion  of  fools.     Prov.  iii.  35. He  that  is  a  fool  walketh 

by  the  way^  his  wisdom,  faileth,  he  saith  to  every  one  that  he  is  a 

fool.     Eccl.  X.  3. Thou  art  filled  with  shame  for  glory,     Hab. 

ii.  16. Whose  glory  is  their  shame.     Phil.  iii.  19. 


THE   PICTURE    PREACHER.  475 

shame  and  confusion ;  and  the  hardy  leader  of  a  band 
of  robbers  trembled  before  a  poor  and  helpless  old 
man.  He  quitted  once  more  the  society  of  wicked- 
ness, and  lived  and  died  a  Christian. 


THE  MISCHIEVOUS  DOG. 

A  certain  man  had  an  ill-tempered  and  mischievous 
dog,  that  when  any  one  approached  would  run  up  slyly 
to  their  heels  and  endeavor  to  bite  them  without  notice. 
His  master  to  prevent  his  doing*  injury  to  any  one,  sus- 
pended a  bell  around  his  neck,  that  notice  of  his  presence 
might  be  given  wherever  he  went.  The  dog  grew 
proud  of  his  bell  and  went  tinkling  it  all  over  the 
market-place.  An  old  hound  said  to  him  :  '*  Why  do 
you  make  such  an  exhibition  of  yourself?  That  bell 
you  carry  is  not,  believe  me,  any  order  of  merit,  but 
on  the  contrary,  a  mark  of  disgrace,  a  public  notice 
to  all  men  to  avoid  you  as  an  ill-mannered  dog." 

Application. — Some  people  are  so  exceeding  vain, 
and  at  the  same  time,  so  dull  of  apprehension,  that 
they  interpret  everything  by  which  they  are  distin- 
guished from  others,  in  their  own  favor.  If  they  be- 
tray any  weaknesses  in  conversation,  which  are  apt  to 
excite  the  laughter  of  their  company,  they  make  no 
scruple  of  ascribing  it  to  their  superiority  in  point  of  wit. 

If  want  of  sense  or  breeding  (one  of  which  is  always 
the  case)  disposes  them  to  give  or  mistake  affronts, 
upon  which  account  all  discreet  sensible  people  are 
obliged  to  shun  their  company,  they  impute  it  to  their 
own  valor  and  magnanimity,  to  which  they  fancy  the 
world  pays  an  awful  and  respectful  deference. 

There  are  several  decent  ways  of  preventing  such 
turbulent  men  from  doing  mischief,  which  might  be 
applied  with  secrecy,  and  many  times  pass  unregarded, 
if  their  own  ignorance  did  not  require  the  rest  of  man- 
kind to  take  notice  of  it. 


476  ROYAL   ROAD   TO   HAPPINESS;    OR 

THE  WAGONER  AND   HERCULES. 

A  wagoner,  or  carter,  driving  his  team  on  a  bad 
road,  one  of  the  wheels  of  his  wagon  sunk  down  into 
a  deep  rut.  The  rustic  driver  thinking  it  impossible  to 
get  the  wheel  out  of  such  a  place,  and  it  being  import- 
ant that  his  load  should  be  delivered  at  a  certain  hour, 
and  if  not  he  would  suffer  a  great  and  perhaps  an  irre- 

{)arable  loss.  In  his  distress,  he  did  nothing  but  utter 
oud  cries  to  Hercules,  the  god  of  strength,  one  of  the 
heathen  divinities,  which  his  countrymen  worshiped. 
To  this  being  the  poor  wagoner  appealed  for  imme- 
diate help  and  deliverance,  falling  on  his  knees  in  the 
midst  of  the  mud. 

While  in  this  attitude,  an  old  philosopher  happened 
to  come  by.  **What  are  you  doing  there,  my  honest 
friend  f  said  he.  *^That  is  not  the  way  to  get  the 
wagon  out  of  the  hole,  you  must  work  as  well  as  pray. 
Up,  bestir  yourself,  and  put  your  shoulder  to  the  wheel. 
I  am  an  infirm  old  man,  but  I  will  do  what  I  can  to 
help  you,  as  I  perceive  you  are  in  distress.  But  see, 
here  come  two  stout  young  men  and  I  feel  sure  that 
they  will  help  us."  When  a  human  creature  has 
thought  seriously  of  his  situation,  and  done  all  he  can 
to  remove  its  difficulties,  he  then  feels  that  he  has  done 
his  duty,  and  will  have  no  regrets  for  any  neglect  on 
his  part.  He  may  expect  that  the  motto  or  saying  will 
prove  true  **  God  helps  those  that  help  themselves." 

The  fable  adds  that  when  the  young  men  came  up, 
the  philosopher  worked  with  the  others  and  after  some 
little  trouble  the  wheel  was  put  on  even  ground.  *^  God 
bless  you,  sir!"  said  the  driver  to  the  philosopher,  *^Isee 
you  are  right,  and  another  time  I  will  never  expect  my 
affairs  will  go  right,  till  I  have  done  all  I  can  on  my 
part  to  put  them  in  good  order." 

It  will  be  observed  that  when  the  wagoner  despaired 
of  recei^ang  any  help  from  the  exertions  of  himself  or 
others,  instinctively  he  called  upon  Hercules  whom  he 


THE   PICTUBE   TREACHER. 


477 


THE  WAGONER  AND  HERCULES. 


Do  your  oion  business^  and  work  with  your  own  hands.  L 
Thess.  iv.  11. These  hands  have  ministered  unto  my  necessi- 
ties.    Acts  XX.  34. Work  out  your  own  salvation  . .  .  .for  it  is 

God  icho  worketh  in  you  both  to  will  and  to  do  of  his  yood pleas- 
ure.    Phil.  ii.  12, 13. Not  slothful  in  business,  fervent  in  spirit, 

serving  the  Lord.    Rejoicing  in  hope;  patient  in  tribulation;  con- 
tinuing instant  in  prayer.    Rom.  xii.  11,  12. 


478        BOYAL  ROAD  TO  HAPPINESS;  OR 

was  taught  to  believe  was  the  deity  who  was  able  to 
give  him  immediate  deliverance.  Whatever  we  may 
think  of  the  propriety  of  the  wagoner's  calling  upon 
Buch  a  being  we  must  admit  that  the  wagoner  was  one 
of  God's  creatures  and  as  such  was  entitled  to  all  the 
promises  he  has  made  to  the  race.  He  has  declared 
that  **he  is  no  respecter  of  persons,"  and  that  his 
tender  mercies  are  over  all  his  works.  He  heareth  the 
cry  of  the  poor  and  the  needy.  We  have  therefore  no 
right  to  say  that  the  prayer  of  a  poor  ignorant  heathen 
will  not  be  heard  and  answered,  when  he  is  in  distress. 

"  It  does  not  follow,"  says  a  learned  and  pious  com- 
mentator, *Hhat  because  one  people  are  favored  with  a 
divine  revelation,  that  therefore  they  shall  be  saved  ; 
while  others  who  have  not  that  revelation,  shall  finally 
perish;  this  is  not  God's  procedm^e;  where  he  has 
given  a  lata  a  divine  revelation  ;  he  requires  obedience 
to  that  law ;  and  only  doers  of  that  law,  who  have  lived 
according  to  the  light  and  privileges  granted  in  that 
revelation  shall  he  justified;  shall  be  finally  acknowl- 
edged to  be  such  and  fit  for  the  kingdom  of  God.  Nor 
does  it  follow  that  the  Gentiles  who  have  not  had  a 
divine  revelation  shall  either  perish  because  they  had 
it  not ;  or  their  unrighteous  conduct  pass  unpunished  ; 
because,  not  ha\ang  this  revelation,  it  might  be  con- 
sidered an  excuse  for  their  sins." 

St.  Paul  says  in  Romans,  chap,  li,  ^^  When  the  Gen- 
tiles which  have  not  the  law,  do  by  nature  the  things 
contained  in  the  law,  these,  having  not  the  law,  are  a 
law  unto  themselves ;  which  show  the  work  of  the  law 
written  upon  their  hearts,"  etc.  We  learn  by  this,  that 
the  Gentiles  who  have  not  had  the  revelation  spoken 
of  above,  have  a  natural  instinct,  or  a  measure  of  that 
"  Hght  which  lighteth  every  man  that  cometh  into  the 
world."  This  imparts  the  things  contained  in  the  law,  to 
act  according  to  justice,  temperance,  and  truth,  the 
practice  of  which  the  revealed  word  so  powerfully 
enjoins ;  these  are  a  law  unto  themselves ;  they  are  not 


THE   PICTURE    PREACHER. 


479 


THE  VAIN  JACKDAW. 


Let  evei'y  man  abide  in  the  same  calling  wherein  he  was  called. 

L  Cor.  vii.  20. lie  that  worketh  deceit  shall  not  dwell  in  my 

house,  he  that  telleth  lies  shall  not  tarry  in  my  sight,     Psa.  cL  7. 

And  he  content  with  such  things  as  ye  have.     Heb.  xiii.  6, 

Man  walketh  in  a  vain  show.     Psa.  xxxiv.  6. Mind  not 

high  things.     Rom.  xii.  16. The  joy  of  the  hypocrite  is  hut  for 

a  moment.    Job  xx.  5. 


480        BOYAL  ROAD  TO  HAPPINESS;  OR 

accountable  to  any  other  law,  and  are  not  to  be 
judged  by  any  dispensation  different  from  that  under 
which  they  live. 

THE  VAIN  JACKDAW. 

A  certain  jackdaw  was  so  proud  and  ambitious,  that 
not  contented  to  live  within  his  own  sphere,  he  picked 
up  the  feathers  which  fell  from  the  peacocks,  stuck 
them  among  his  own,  and  very  confidently  introduced 
himself  into  an  assembly  of  those  beautiful  birds. 
They  soon  found  him  out,  stripped  him  of  his  bor- 
rowed plumes,  and  falling  upon  him  with  their  sharp 
bills,  punished  him  as  his  presumption  deserved. 
Upon  this,  full  of  grief  and  affliction,  he  returned  to 
his  old  companions,  and  would  have  flocked  with  them 
again ;  but  they,  knowing  his  late  life  and  conversa- 
tion, industriously  avoided  him,  and  refused  to  admit 
him  into  their  company ;  and  one  of  them,  at  the  same 
time,  gave  him  this  serious  reproof:  ^^If,  friend,  you 
could  have  been  contented  with  your  station,  and  had 
not  disdained  the  rank  in  which  nature  had  placed 
you,  you  had  not  been  used  so  scurvily  by  those  upon 
whom  you  introduced  yourself,  nor  suffered  the  notori- 
ous slight  which  we  now  think  ourselves  obliged  to 
put  upon  you." 

Application. — ^What  we  may  learn  from  this  fable 
is,  in  the  main,  to  live  contentedly  in  our  own  condi- 
tion, whatever  it  be,  without  affecting  to  look  bigger 
than  we  are,  by  a  false  or  borrowed  light.  To  be 
barely  pleased  with  appearing  above  what  a  man 
really  is,  is  bad  enough ;  and  what  may  justly  render 
him  contemptible  in  the  eyes  of  his  equals ;  but  if,  to 
enable  him  to  do  this  with  something  of  a  better  grace, 
he  has  clandestinely  feathered  his  nest  with  his  neigh- 
bor's goods,  when  found  out,  he  has  nothing  to  expect 
but  to  be  stripped  of  his  plunder,  and  used  like  a 
felonious  rogue  into  the  bargain. 


THE    PICTURE    PREACHER.  481 

MARRIAGE  AMONG  THE  ANCIENT  ROMANS 
AND  THE  EARLY  AMERICANS. 

The  ancient  Romans  were  republicans  after  tlieir 
kind,  and  continued  such  for  a  considerable  number  of 
centuiies.  Though  they  were  pagan  idolaters,  and 
their  worship  was  deplorably  corrupt,  yet  previous  to 
their  imbibing  the  atheism  of  Epicurus,  they  generally 
believed  in  a  future  retribution  of  rewards  and  punish- 
ments; which  belief  operated  so  powerfully  upon 
them,  that  they  were  truly  exemplary  in  some  of  theii 
social  virtues. 

In  particular,  perjury  was  scarcely  known  among 
them,  and  infidelity  in  the  connubial  state  was  no  less 
uncommon.  The  Roman  republicans  were  plain  men 
and  women,  accustomed  to  daily  labor,  and  quite  unac- 
customed to  finery  of  apparel  or  luxury  of  living.  A 
Roman,  of  even  noble  blood,  tilled  his  little  field  with 
his  own  hands,  and  was  proud  of  tilling  it  with  supe- 
rior industry  and  skill ;  while  his  wife  made  it  her  chief 
ambition  to  be  an  excellent  housewife. 

While  this  state  of  things  lasted,  and  a  very  long 
while  it  did  last,  the  Romans  were  eager  enough  to  get 
themselves  wives.  They  married  generally  and  they 
man'ied  young ;  for  they  thought,  and  well  they  might, 
that  whoso  found  a  wife,  found  a  good  thing, — a  real 
helpmeet,  as  well  as  a  dear  and  faithful  companion. 
And  what  is  singularly  remarkable,  if  true,  it  is 
recorded  by  a  Roman  histonan,  that  there  had  not  been 
known  in  the  city  of  Rome  a  single  instance  of  divorce 
during  the  space  of  five  hundred  years ;  though  they 
had  put  it  in  the  power  of  the  husband  to  repudiate  his 
wife  almost  at  pleasure. 

Unfortunately  for  the  Roman  republic,  and  more 
especially  for  the  female  part  of  it,  a  great  and  splen- 
did event  quite  changed  the  morals,  the  taste,  the  hab- 
its, and  the  whole  face  of  tlie  country.  One  hundred 
and  ninety  years  before  the  Christian  era,  the  Romans 

21 


482        ROYAL  ROAD  TO  HAPPINESS;  OR 

for  the  first  time  entered  into  Asia  with  an  army,  which 
under  Scipio  defeated  and  conquered  Antiochus  the 
Great,  of  Syria ;  and  from  thence  they  brought  home 
such  a  taste  for  the  luxuries  of  the  East,  as  promoted 
and  hastened  the  ruin  of  their  commonweahh ;  and  in 
no  way  more  directly,  than  by  a  practical  forhiddance  of 
marriage. 

The  Roman  women,  once  so  plain,  frugal  and  indus- 
trious, became  enamored  of  the  costly  finery  that  was 
brought  from  the  East;  one  of  them,  Tullia  Paulina, 
when  dressed  in  all  her  jewels,  is  said  to  have  worn  on 
her  person  to  the  value  of  332,000  pounds  sterling. 
And  though  this  was  the  most  extraordinary  instance 
of  the  time,' yet  it  is  reasonable  to  suppose  that  the  rest 
of  the  Roman  ladies  endeavored  to  follow  her  as  near 
as  they  could. 

This  new  order  of  things,  while  it  brought  the  repub- 
lic down  near  the  abyss  of  ruin,  brought  marriage 
almost  into  disuse ;  insomuch  that  Augustus,  the  first 
Roman  Emperor,  finding  among  the  men  such  a  gen- 
eral disinclination  to  marry,  was  forced  to  pass  severe 
penal  laws  to  compel  them.  But  it  is  stated  that  it  was 
all  to  little  purpose.  One  of  the  leading  things  which 
brought  about  this  was  the  extravagance  of  the  women 
of  the  upper  classes  in  dress  and  finery.  This  caused 
such  an  expense,  that  very  few  of  the  men  would  enter 
the  marriage  relation.  We  see  similar  causes  now  ope- 
rating among  what  are  termed  the  upper  classes  in  our 
large  cities.  Marriage,  when  it  does  take  place,  is  often 
a  matter  of  bargain  and  sale,  the  rich  marrying  the 
rich,  and  this  too  without  the  opportunity  of  the  parties 
learning  of  the  respective  domestic  habits  and  the 
moral  qualities  of  the  other.  ^^Such  acquaintance  is 
well  nigh  impossible,"  says  a  late  city  writer,  *'in  large 
cities,  crowded  with  innumerable  activities  and  beset 
with  social  distractions.  Mothers  thus  find  it  impossi- 
ble to  invite  into  their  homes,  for  quiet  evening  visits, 
even  the  young  men  whose  society  they  know  would 


THE    PICTURE    PREACHER.  483 

be  desirable  for  their  daughters."  This  seems  an  inev« 
itable  necessity,  from  the  kixmious  habits,  the  pleas- 
ure-seeking lives  of  a  large  class  of  our  wealthy  Amer- 
ican city  people — with  their  clubs  for  the  men,  and 
^'kettle  drums"  or  afternoon  tea  for  the  women.  These 
seem  to  be  treading  in  the  same  paths  as  the  Romans  in 
their  days  of  luxurious  indulgence  and  idle  dawdling. 

The  great  hope  of  our  country  is  in  the  virtue  of  the 
great  body  of  our  common  people,  away  from  the  great 
cities.  Without  marriage,  and  marriage  too  founded 
upon  the  affections  of  the  heart,  and  then  farther 
cemented  and  rendered  beautiful  and  holy  by  mutual 
sacrifices  of  the  wedded,  a  nation  must  eventually  be 
lost  to  virtue  and  sink  to  irremediable  ruin  and  decay. 

As  with  the  ancient  Romans,  so  with  the  early  set- 
tlers of  our  country,  marriage  was  universal.  They 
mamed  young,  and  had  large  families ;  ten  and  twelve 
children  each  was  not  unusual. 

The  original  settlers  of  New  England  did  not  in  all 
exceed  about  20,000  people,  distributed  say  in  some 
5,000  families.  And  these  emigrated  mainly  in  the 
fourteen  years  comprised  between  the  dates  1628-1642 ; 
after  which  emigrants  came  scattering  along  few  and 
far  between.  Yet  170  years  after,  when  w^as  taken  the 
first  census,  that  of  1800,  these  few  thousand  families 
had  increased  to  over  one  million  of  souls ! 

As  a  consequence,  all  of  the  descendants  of  the  orig- 
inal New  Englanders,  as  genealogical  investigations 
prove,  are  either  nearly  or  remotely  connected  with  all 
the  others.  Multitudes  of  husbands  and  wives  are  thus 
blood  relations,  cousins,  and  honestly  and  ignorantly 
so;  the  cousinship  being  generally  so  many  degrees 
removed,  as  not  to  occasion  any  very  marked  deterio- 
ration in  the  progeny — at  least  none  to  which  they  wil- 
lingly acknowledge! 

The  writer,  after  over  a  quarter  of  a  century  of  wed- 
ded life,  within  a  few  weeks  has  discovered  that  he 
married  a  fifth  cousin.     Fui-thermore,  he  had  the  privi- 


484  KOYAL   KOAD    TO   HAPPINESS;    OR 

lege  of  informing  a  retired  sea  captain  then  a  chance 
evening  visitor  at  his  house,  a  gentleman  of  nearly 
eighty  years  of  age,  that  his  deceased  wife,  with  whom 
he  had  Jived  happily  forty  years,  was  his  blood  rela- 
tion— also  a  fifth  cousin — a  fact  of  which  he  was  until 
that  moment  entirely  ignorant. 

The  decay  of  marriage  among  us,  the  lateness  of 
marriage  when  it  does  take  place,  with  the  very  small 
number  of  children  to  each  family,  is  an  alarming  fea- 
ture of  our  time.  Where  it  is  a  matter  of  design,  as  it 
largely  is,  it  shows  a  fear  of  incurring  responsibilities 
that  is  not  short  of  moral  cowardice. 

Great  strength  is  found  in  large  families  in  the  pro- 
motion of  the  domestic  virtues,  by  the  sacrifices  required 
each  for  the  other,  and  from  the  hold  which  such 
always  seem  to  have  upon  a  community,  where  they 
have*^  been  bred  to  habits  of  industry,  frugality  and 
virtue.  When  children  go  out  into  the  world  to  fight 
the  battle  of  life,  they  find  few  such  warm,  loving 
friends,  as  the  brothers  and  sisters  who  were  nm-tured 
with  them  under  the  parental  roof-tree  ;  so  the  more  of 
them  the  better,  the  heart  being  stronger  and  richer 
from  its  abundance  of  roots. 

Some  forty  years  since  in  a  New  England  town,  the 
oldest  of  a  large  family,  a  young  mechanic  being  on  his 
death-bed,  called  his  five  brothers  to  his  bed  side  to 
give  them  his  last,  his  dying  words.  He  told  them  that 
life  would  be  pleasant  to  them  if  they  practiced  econ- 
omy, were  industrious  and  preserved  strict  principles 
of  honor  and  justice  in  their  transactions  with  their 
fellow-men.  But  withal  they  must  stand  by  each  other. 
He  made  them  promise  that  they  would  meet  on  the 
beginning  of  each  January,  compare  notes  as  to  the 
results  of  the  business  of  the  past  year,  give  mutual 
counsel,  and,  if  either  one  should  have  fallen  behind, 
assist  him.     He  then  died. 

The  brothers  followed  his  dying  advice,  and  em- 
barked in  the  ordinary  avocations  of  life  in  their  native 


THE    PICTURE    PREACHER.  485 

town.  On  attaining  manhood  they  became  a  power  in 
the  community,  through  their  united  strength,  and  the 
sound  common  sense  that  marked  tlieir  careers,  being 
sought  for  in  positions  of  trust,  one  of  them  rising  from 
a  workman's  bench  to  be  Governor  of  the  State,  and  a 
gentleman  of  large  fortune. 


FRATERNAL  FRIENDSHIP. 

Friendship  is  that  peculiar  relation  which  is  formed 
by  a  consent  and  harmony  of  minds,  by  mutual  esteem 
and  reciprocal  tenderness  and  affection.  Friendship  is 
to  be  considered  as  a  rare  and  singular  blessing,  vouch- 
safed perhaps  to  few,  but  when  vouchsafed,  one  of  the 
most  exquisite  cordials  in  human  life.  Multitudes  are 
unqualified  for  a  constant  and  warm  friendship.  Some 
ardent  enough  in  their  benevolence,  and  not  defective 
either  in  ofHciousness  or  liberality,  are  mutable  and 
uncertain;  soon  attracted  by  new  objects,  disgusted 
without  offence  and  alienated  without  enmity. 

One  cannot  properly  be  chosen  for  a  friend,  whose 
kindness  is  exhaled  by  its  own  warmth,  or  frozen  by 
the  first  blast  of  slander.  He  cannot  be  a  useful 
counsellor  who  w^ill  hear  no  opinion  but  his  own.  He 
will  not  much  invite  confidence,  whose  principal  maxim 
is  to  suspect ;  nor  can  the  candor  and  frankness  of  that 
man  be  much  esteemed,  who  spreads  to  human  kind, 
and  makes  every  man,  without  distinction,  an  intimate 
of  his  own  bosom.  Entire  friends  are  like  two  souls 
in  one  body ;  they  can  give  or  receive  nothing ;  all  is 
common  between  them. 

Damon  and  Pythias. 

One  of  the  most  remai:kable  instances  of  fraternal 
friendship  recorded  in  ancient  history  is  that  of  Damon 
and  Pythias.  Damon  being  condemned  to  death  by 
Dionysius,  tyrant  of  Syracuse,  obtained  liberty  to  visit 
his  wife  and  children,  leaving  his  friend  Pythias  as  a 


48G 


KOYAL   ROAD    TO   HAPPINESS;    OR 


FRATERNAL  FRIENDSHIP. 


As  touching  brotherly  love  ....  ye  yourselves  are  taught  of  God 
to  love  one  another,  I.  Thess.  iv.  9. For  all  the  law  is  ful- 
filled in  one  word Thou  shalt  love  thy  neighbor  as  thyself 

Gal.  V.  14. The  soul  of  Jonathan  wasJcnit  with  the  soul  of  Da- 
vid^ and  Jonathan  loved  him  as  his  own  soul,  I.  Sam.  xviii.  1. 
A  friend  loveth  at  all  times,  and  a  brother  is  born  for  adver- 
sity,    Prov.  xvil   17. Scarcely  for  a  righteous  man  will  one 

die;  yet .  . .  ,for  a  good  man  some  would  even  dare  to  die.   Rom. 

V.  7. Christ  died  for  the  ungodly,     Rom.  v.  6. The  just  for 

the  unjust,    I.  Pet.  iii  18. 


THE    PICTURE    PREACHER.  487 

pledge  of  his  return,  on  condition  that  if  he  failed, 
rythias  should  suffer  in  his  stead.  Damon  not  having 
appeared  at  the  time  appointed,  the  tyrant  had  the 
curiosity  to  visit  him  in  prison.  *^  AVhat  a  fool  was 
you,"  said  he,  *^to  rely  on  Damon's  promise!  How 
could  you  imagine  that  he  would  sacrifice  his  life  for 
you,  or  for  any  man  ?"  "  My  lord,"  said  Pythias,  with 
a  firm  and  noble  aspect,  ^'  I  would  suffer  a  thousand 
deaths  rather  than  my  friend  should  fail  in  any  article 
of  honor.  He  cannot  fail ;  I  am  confident  of  his  virtue 
as  I  am  of  my  own  existence ;  I  beseech  the  gods  to 
preserve  his  life.  Oppose  him  ye  winds !  suffer  him 
not  to  arrive,  till  my  death  has  saved  a  life  of  more 
importance  than  mine,  necessary  to  his  lovely  wife,  to 
his  little  innocents,  to  his  friends  and  to  his  country." 

The  fatal  day  arrived,  Pythias  was  brought  forth ; 
and  with  an  air  of  satisfaction,  walked  to  the  place  of 
execution.  Addressing  the  assembled  people :  ^^  My 
prayers  are  heard,  the  w^inds  have  been  contrary ; 
Damon  could  not  conquer  impossibilities ;  he  will  be 
here  to-morrow,  and  my  blood  shall  ransom  that  of  my 
friend."  As  he  pronounced  these  words  a  murmur 
arose,  a  distant  voice  was  heard,  the  crowd  caught  the 
words,  and  ^^  Stop^  stop  execution  P^  was  repeated  by  all. 
A  man  came  at  full  speed  and  was  instantly  in  the 
arms  of  Pythias.  "You  are  safe,"  he  cried,  "You  are 
safe,  my  friend,  my  beloved;  the  gods  be  praised." 
Pale,  cold,  and  half  speechless  in  the  arms  of  his 
Damon,  Pythias  replied  in  broken  accents,  "  Fatal 
haste, — cruel  impatience.  But  I  will  not  be  wholly 
disappointed ;  since  I  cannot  die  to  save  you  I  witl  die 
to  accompany  you^ 

The  heart  of  Dionysius  was  touched ;  he  could  no 
longer  resist  the  power  of  virtue.  He  descended  from 
his  throne  and  advanced  towards  the  pair,  exclaiming 
**  Live,  live  both  of  you  !  you  have  demonstrated  the 
existence  of  virtue,  and  consequently  of  a  God  who 
rewj^rds  it." 


488  ROYAL   ROAD    TO   HAPPINESS;    OR 

FRETFULNESS  AND  DESPONDENCY. 

[From  Mrs.  Childs'  "  Looking  toward  Sunset."] 

Probably  there  are  no  two  things  that  tend  so  much 
to  make  human  beings  unhappy  in  themselves  and 
unpleasant  to  others  as  habits  of  fretfulness  and  des- 
pondency ;  two  faults  peculiarly  apt  to  grow  upon  peo- 
ple after  they  have  passed  their  youth.  Both  of  these 
ought  to  be  resisted  with  constant  vigilance,  as  we 
would  resist  a  disease. 

Life  is  made  utterly  disagreeable  to  us  when  we  are 
obliged  daily  to  listen  to  a  complaining  house-mate. 
How  annoying  and  disheartening  are  such  remarks  as 
these: 

"  I  was  not  invited  to  the  party  last  night.  I  suppose  I  am 
getting  to  be  of  no  consequence  to  anybody  now." 

"  Yes,  that  is  a  beautiful  present  you  have  had  sent  you.  No- 
body sends  tne  presents." 

"I  am  a  useless  incumbrance  now.  I  can  see  that  people  want 
me  out  of  their  way." 

Such  observations  are  not  unfrequently  heard  from 
persons  who  are  surrounded  by  external  comforts,  and 
who  £lre  consequently  envied  by  others  of  similar  dis- 

Eosition  in  less  favorable  circumstances.  No  virtue 
as  been  so  much  recommended  to  the  old  as  cheerful- 
ness. In  his  letters  Southey  says :  *^I  have  told  you 
of  the  Spaniard,  who  always  put  on  his  spectacles 
when  about  to  eat  cherries,  that  they  might  look  big- 
ger and  more  tempting.  In  like  manner,  I  make  the 
most  of  my  enjoyments ;  and  though  I  do  not  cast  my 
eyes  away  from  my  troubles,  I  pack  them  in  as  little 
compass  as  I  can  for  myself,  and  never  let  them  annoy 
others.'' 

Perhaps  you  will  say,  "  all  this  is  very  fine  talk  for 

1)eople  who  are  naturally  cheerful.     But  I  am  naturally 
ow-spirited  by  temperament ;  and  how  is  that  to  be 
helped?" 


THE    PICTURE    PREACHER.  489 

In  this  world  of  sorrow  and  disappointment,  every 
human  being  has  trouble  enough  of  his  own.  It  is 
unkind  to  add  the  weight  of  your  despondency  to  the 
burdens  of  another,  who,  if  you  knew  all  his  secrets, 
you  might  find  had  a  heavier  load  than  yours  to  carry. 
You  find  yourself  always  refreshed  by  the  presence  of 
cheerful  people.  Why  not  make  earnest  efforts  to  con- 
fer that  pleasure  on  others  ?  You  will  find  half  tlie  bat- 
tle gained,  if  you  never  allow  yourself  to  say  anything 
gloomy.  If  you  habitually  try  to  pack  your  troubles 
away  out  of  other  people's  sight,  you  will  be  in  a  fair 
way  to  forget  them  yourself: 

First,  because  evils  become  exaggerated  to  the  imag- 
ination by  repetition. 

Second,  because  an  eff'ort  made  for  the  happiness  of 
others,  lifts  us  above  ourselves. 

Perhaps  you  will  say,  *^If  I  feel  low-spirited,  even 
if  I  do  not  speak  of  it,  I  cannot  help  showing  it."  The 
best  way  to  avoid  the  intrusion  of  sad  feelings,  is  to 
immerse  yourself  in  some  occupation.  The  French 
have  a  proverb,  ^^To  be  busy  is  to  be  half  happy." 
Adam  Clarke  said:  ^^I  have  lived  to  know  that  the 
secret  of  happiness  is  never  to  allow  your  energies  to 
stagnate." 

If  you  are  so  unfortunate  as  to  have  nothing  to  do 
at  home ;  then  the  moment  you  begin  to  feel  a  ten- 
dency to  depression,  start  for  the  homes  of  others. 
Tidy  up  the  room  of  some  helpless  person,  who  has 
nobody  to  wait  upon  her ;  carry  flowers  to  some  inva- 
lid, or  read  to  some  lonely  old  body.  If  you  are  a 
man,  saw  and  split  wood  for  some  poor  widow,  or  lone 
woman  in  the  neighborhood.  If  you  are  a  woman, 
knit  stockings  for  poor  children,  or  mend  caps  for  those 
whose  eyesight  is  failing ;  and  when  you  have  done 
them,  don't  send  them  home,  but  take  them  yourself. 

Merely  to  have  every  hour  of  life  fully  occupied  is  a 
great  blessing;  but  the  full  benefit  of  constant  employ- 
ment cannot  be  experienced  unless  we  are  occupied  in 

21* 


490  ROYAL    ROAD    TO    HAPPINESS;    OR 

a  way  that  promotes  the  good  of  others,  while  it  exer 
cises  our  own  bodies  and  employs  our  own  minds. 

Tlie  value  of  occupation  is  three-fold  to  aged  people, 
if  usefulness  is  combined  with  exercise ;  for  in  that 
way  the  machinery  of  body,  mind  and  heart  may  all 
be  kept  from  rusting.  After  life  has  passed  its  matu- 
rity, great  care  should  be  taken  not  to  become  indiffer- 
ent to  the  affairs  of  the  world.  It  is  salutary  for  both 
mind  and  heart  to  take  an  interest  in  the  great  moral 
questions  of  the  age.  In  John  Wesley's  Journal  for 
self-examination,  tliis  suggestive  question  occurs: 
**Have  I  embraced  every  probable  opportunity  of 
doing  good,  and  of  preventing  or  removing  or  lessen- 
ing evil  ?" 

Nothing  is  more  healthy  for  the  soul  than  to  go  out 
of  ourselves  and  stay  out.  We  thus  avoid  brooding 
over  our  own  bodily  pains,  our  mental  deficiencies,  or 
past  moral  short-comings.  We  forget  whether  others 
neglect  us  or  not ;  whether  they  duly  appreciate  us  or 
not.  He  who  leads  a  true,  active  and  useful  life,  has 
no  time  for  such  corrosive  thoughts. 

All  self-consciousness  indicates  disease.  We  never 
think  about  our  stomachs  till  we  have  dyspepsia.  The 
moral  diseases  which  induce  self-consciousness,  are 
worse  than  the  physical,  both  in  their  origin  and  their 
results.  To  indulge  in  repinings  over  our  own  deficien- 
cies as  compared  with  others,  while  it  indicates  the 
baneful  presence  of  envy,  prevents  our  making  the 
best  use  of  such  endowments  as  we  have.  A  continual 
preparation  for  eternal  progress  is  the  wisest  and  hap- 
piest way  of  living  here.  If  we  daily  strive  to  make 
ourselves  fit  companions  for  angels,  we  shall  be  sure  of 
enjoying  some  degree  of  heaven  upon  earth. 

Perhaps  there  is  no  error  of  human  nature  productive 
of  so  much  unhappiness  as  the  indulgence  of  temper. 
Often  everything  in  a  household  is  made  to  go  wrong 
an  entire  day  because  one  member  of  the  family  rises 
in  a  fretful  mood.     If  one  is  overcome  by  angry  feel- 


THE    PICTURE    PREACHER.  491 

ings,  they  should  try  and  divert  their  minds,  go  out 
into  the  open  air,  feed  animals,  gather  flowers  or  fruit 
for  the  very  person  they  were  tempted  to  annoy.  By 
thus  opening  the  door  for  the  devils  to  walk  out  of 
your  soul,  angels  will  be  sure  to  walk  in. 


IDLERS,  VAGRANTS,  TRAMPS,  ETC. 

Multitudes  pass  along  the  stream  of  life  without 
laboring  at  the  oar,  or  paying  anything  for  their 
passage;  so  that  the  charge  of  their  fare  falls,  most 
imreasonably,  upon  their  fellow  passengers.  This  is 
an  evil  of  a  very  serious  and  dangerous  nature ;  for 
such  idlers  not  only  burden  the  community,  but  cor- 
rupt it.  To  say  that  it  were  as  well  for  their  country 
that  they  had  never  been  born,  and  that  they  are 
unworthy  to  be  numbered  in  the  census  of  its  popu- 
lation,— to  say  this  is  saying  too  little.  They  not 
only  do  no  good  but  they  do  much  harm ;  they  not 
only  prey  upon  the  fruits  of  other  men's  industry,  but 
they  deprave  public  morals.  It  is  in  the  nature  of  this 
kind  of  gentry  to  multiply  very  fast  if  they  are  not 
checked;  for  besides  that  they  bring  up  their  children, 
if  children  they  have,  in  tlieirown  way  of  living,  they 
are  perpetually  making  proselytes  from  the  families  of 
their  neighbors  :  leading  astray,  by  their  examples  and 
enticements,  a  great  many  youth,  who,  but  for  them, 
might  have  been  industrious  and  useful  to  society. 

In  some  countries,  the  wisdom  of  legislators  has 
been  much  employed  on  this  subject,  and  the  ann  of 
executive  power  has  enforced  industry,  as  a  political 
duty  which  every  one  owed  to  the  State.  The 
Hollanders  in  particular,  in  the  early  age  of  their 
republic,  considered  idle  persons  as  politically  criminal 
and  punished  idleness  as  a  crime  against  the  common- 
wealth. Those  who  had  no  visible  means  for  a  liveli- 
hood, were  called   before  the  magistracy,  to  give  an 


492 


BOTAL  BOAD   TO   HAPPINESS;   OB 


ANCIENT  PUNISHMENT  OF  IDLERS  IN  HOLLAND. 

Gentlemanly  Idlers,  Vagrants,  Tramps,  &c. 


We  commanded  you,  that  if  any  would  not  work,  neither 

should  he  eat,     1  Thcss.  iii.  10. We  hear  that  some  walk  am.ong 

you  disorderly,  working  not  at  all,  hut  are  hasy  bodies  .... 
them  that  are  such  we  command  and  exhort  by  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,  that  with  quietness  they  work  and  eat  their  own  bread, 

1  Thess.  iii.  11,  12. Not  slothful  in  business,      1  Thess.  4,  11. 

In  all  labor  there  is  profit,     Prov.  xiv.  23. 


THE    PICTURE    PREACHER.  493 

account  how  they  got  their  living;  and  if  they  were 
unable  to  render  a  satisfactory  explanation,  they  were 
put  to  labor. 

Those  thrifty  Hollanders  are  said  to  have  employed, 
also,  the  following  singular  expedient.  They  con- 
structed a  kind  of  box  sufficiently  large  for  a  man  to 
stand  therein  upright  and  exercise  his  bodily  faculties. 
In  the  interior  of  it  there  was  a  pump.  The  vagrant 
or  idler  was  put  into  this  box,  which  was  so  placed,  in 
the  liquid  element,  that  the  water  would  gush  into  it 
constantly,  through  apertures  in  its  bottom  and  sides ; 
so  that  the  lazy  culprit  had  to  work  at  the  pump,  with 
all  his  might,  and  for  several  hours  together,  to  keep 
himself  from  drowning.  The  medicine,  it  is  said,  was 
found  to  be  an  infallible  cure  for  the  disease  ;  inso- 
much that  no  person  was  ever  known  to  work  at  the 
pump  for  the  second  time. 

We  do  not  recommend  those  old  Dutch  laws  and 
customs  for  domestic  use  here.  Yet  every  thing  ought 
to  be  done  in  this  case,  which  can  be  done,  consistently 
with  that  personal  liberty  guaranteed  to  every  citizen. 

Public  sentiment,  as  it  now  stands,  in  some,  if  not  in 
most  parts,  of  our  country,  must  needs  be  rectified ; 
else  idleness  and  dissipation  will  continue  to  gather 
numbers  and  strength.  So  long  as  an  idle,  worthless 
chap — perchance  a  gambler  and  sharper — by  means  of 
a  fine  coat,  a  lily-hand,  and  graceful  bows,  is  able  to 
take  rank  of  an  industrious,  worthy  young  farmer,  or 
mechanic,  who  gets  an  honest  living  by  the  sweat  of 
his  face — it  will  be  vain  to  denounce  idleness,  or  to 
recommend  industry.  Under  such  circumstances, 
young  men,  whose  ambition  is  more  than  a  match  for 
their  moral  principle,  very  naturally  turn  idlers,  or  set 
out  to  live  by  their  wits ;  well  knowing  that  if  they 
can  only  keep  up  a  gentlemanly  appearance,  by 
almost  whatever  means,  they  will  be  much  better  re- 
ceived, and  rank  much  higher,  than  if  they  were  plain, 
industrious,  laboring  men. 


494  ROYAL   ROAD    TO    HAPPINESS;    OR 

REVERSES  IN  WORLDLY  MATTERS. 

One  of  tlie  greatest  calamities  of  life,  is  the  sudden 
fall  from  affluence,  or  competence,  to  poverty.  Not 
that  what  we  call  poverty  is  in  itself  so  extremely 
distressing  In  some  countries  it  implies  a  privation 
of  the  indispensable  necessaries  of  life,  or  the  suffer- 
ance of  hunger  and  nakedness,  but  in  this  country 
few  are  so  poor  but  that,  with  prudent  care  and  assidu- 
ous industry,  they  can  provide  themselves  with  whole- 
some food  and  comfortable  raiment.  Many  of  the 
poorer  classes,  are  neither  the  least  contented,  nor  the 
least  happy.  Unaccustomed  to  the  elegances  and  lux- 
uries of  life,  they  feel  no  hankering  after  them ;  and 
accustomed  to  earn  their  bread  by  their  toil,  they  re- 
gard labor  as  no  hardship.  It  procures  them  two  very 
essential  enjoyments — keen  appetite  and  sound  sleep  ; 
and  with  respect  to  real  and  heartfelt  enjoyments  they, 
very  often,  have  more  than  an  equal  share.  That 
degree  of  poverty  which  includes  not  in  it  the  pinch- 
ing want  of  real  necessaries,  wounds  the  miitd  alone ; 
and  it  often  deeply  wounds  the  minds  of  those  who 
have  fallen  from  easy  and  plentiful  circumstances. 
To  them  it  is  an  evil  indeed.  A  comparison  of  the 
past  with  the  present  renders  the  present  irksome  if 
not  intolerable.  The  real  or  imaginary  neglects  they 
experience  in  society,  and  even  from  their  fonner 
familiar  acquaintances  plant,  as  it  were,  thorns  in  their 
hearts. 

Time,  however,  wears  away  the  pungency  of  first 
impressions.  There  is  (and  the  goodness  of  the  Crea- 
tor is  clearly  manifested  in  it),  as  it  were,  a  principle 
of  elasticity  in  the  minds  of  human  beings  which 
enables  them  to  recover  themselves  when  crushed 
down  by  the  shocks  of  adversity  and  to  accommodate 
after  a  while  their  feelings  to  their  circumstances  with 
marvelous  facility.  But  far  above  and  beyond  this, 
the  balm  that  Religion  furnishes  has  the  never  failing 


THE   PICTURE   PREACHER. 


495 


Chicago  in  Flames.  ' 

REVERSES  IN  WORLDLY  MATTERS. 


For  riches  certainly  make  themselves  wings  and  fly  away,  as  an 

eagle  toward  heaven.     Prov.  xxiii.  5. Let  not  the  rich  man 

glory  in  his  riches,     Jer.  ix.  23. Charge  them  that  are  rich  in 

this  world's  goods,  that  they  he  not  high-minded,  nor  trust  in  un- 
certain riches,     L  Tim.  vL  17. Before  1  was  afflicted  I  went 

astray,  but  now  have  I  kept  thy  word,     Psa.  cxix.  67. For  he 

doth  not  willingly  afflict  nor  grieve  the  children  of  men.     Lam. 

iii.  33. Blessed  is  the  man  whom  thou  chastenest,  0  Lord,  and 

teachest  out  of  thy  law,    Psa.  xciv.  12, 


496        ROYAL  ROAD  TO  HAPPINESS;  OR 

Virtue  of  removing  the  corrosions  of  the  heart,  occa- 
sioned by  worldly  misfortunes. 

No  human  prudence  can  always  secure  its  subject 
from  disastrous  reverses  in  worldly  circumstances.  In 
times  of  old  *^  there  came  a  great  wind  from  the  wilder- 
ness, and  smote  the  four  comers  of  the  house  "  in  which 
the  sons  and  dauo-hters  of  the  man  of  the  East — as 
distinguished  for  benevolence  and  charity  as  for  wealth 
— were  eating  and  drinking.  In  a  single  hour,  his 
vast  substance,  and  the  natural  heirs  to  it,  were  all 
swept  from  him. 

The  most  flattering  condition  of  worldly  prosperity 
is  sometimes  found  like  the  smoothness  of  the  surface 
of  the  waters  when  they  are  near  the  fall  of  the  cata- 
ract. There  have  been  many  who  by  an  undue 
"  haste  to  be  rich"  plunged  themselves  into  poverty. 
Scorning  the  secure  competence  they  already  possess, 
or  which  is  fairly  within  their  reach,  they  put  it  to 
risk  upon  the  precarious  contingency  of  suddenly  at- 
taining the  condition  of  opulence.  Impatient  of  slow 
gains,  the  fruits  of  regular  industry,  they  dash  into 
hazardous  enterprises.  If  success  attend  them  for  a 
while,  their  hopes  and  desires  are  expanded  and  they 
plunge  into  deeper  speculations,  till  unexpectedly  the 
fallacious  ground  on  which  they  stand  cleaves  from 
under  them  and  their  fortunes  are  all  swallowed  up. 

One  of  the  most  extraordinary  reverses  in  human 
affairs  took  place  in  the  burning  of  Chicago  in  October, 
1871.  This  event,  like  many  others  in  the  world's 
history,  occurred,  from  apparently  trivial  circumstances. 
It  is  related  in  ancient  history  that  old  Eome  was  once 
saved  by  the  cackling  of  geese ;  and  by  an  insignifi- 
cant occurrence  Chicago  was  laid  in  ashes  by  the  kick 
of  a  cow.  It  appears  that  on  Sunday  evening,  Octo- 
ber 8,  about  9  o'clock,  a  woman  took  a  kerosene  lamp 
into  a  small  bam-like  building  to  milk  a  cow,  who 
kicked  over  her  lamp  which  set  the  hay  on  fire.  Be- 
fore the  alarm  could  be  soimded  two  or  three  other 


THE    PICTURE    PREACHER.  497 

little  buildings — tinder-boxes — to  the  leeward  took 
fire ;  the  spread,  or  rather  the  flight  of  the  fire,  was 
exceeding  rapid,  being  impelled  forward  by  a  south- 
west gale  and  all  attempts  to  stop  its  progress  proved 
in  vain. 

**  Within  twenty-four  hours  after  the  fire  com- 
menced," say  Messrs.  E.  Colbert  and  E.  Chamberlin 
in  their  account  of  ^^  Chicago  and  the  Great  Conflagra- 
tion," *^the  flames  had  swept  over  an  area  of  more 
than  twenty-five  hundred  acres — a  space  equal  to  a 
square  of  two  miles  each  side — destroying  nearly  three 
hundred  human  lives,  reducing  seventeen  thousand 
five. hundred  buildings  to  ashes,  rendering  one  hundred 
thousand  persons  homeless,  and  sweeping  out  of  exist- 
ence two  hundred  million  dollars  worth  of  property. 
Without  a  peer  in  her  almost  magical  growth  to  what 
seemed  to  be  enduring  prosperity,  the  city  of  Chicago 
experienced  a  catastrophe  almost  equally  without  a 
parallel  in  history,  and  the  sad  event  awakened  into 
active  sympathy  the  whole  civilized  world. 

The  annexed  cut,  showing  the  conflagration  in  the 
southern  section  of  the  city,  is  taken  from  one  in  Col- 
bert and  Chamberlin's  account,  showing  the  Illinois 
river  with  two  of  the  swing  bridges  over  it,  as  seen 
from  the  northern  bank  in  the  central  part  of  Chicago. 

There  is  one  kind  of  revolution  perpetually  going  on 
in  this  country ;  the  revolution  in  fortunes.  The  rich 
families  of  the  last  age,  all  but  a  few,  are  utterly  ex- 
tinct as  to  fortune ;  and,  on  the  other  hand,  the  fami- 
lies that  now  figure  in  the  magnificence  of  wealth,  are, 
in  general,  the  founders  of  their  own  fortunes ;  not  a 
few  of  them  having  emerged  from  obscurity,  and  some 
from  the  deepest  shades  of  poverty.  The  revolution- 
ary wheel  is  still  turning,  and  with  a  few  turns  more, 
it  will  turn  down  a  great  part  of  the  present  rich  fami- 
lies, and  will  turn  up,  in  their  stead,  an  equal,  or  per- 
haps greater  number,  from  the  poor  and  middling 
classes. 


498  ROYAL   EOAD   TO   HAPPINESS;    OE 

MAN'S  LONELINESS. 

[Written  for  this  work  by  Henry  Howe.] 

We  each  of  us  came  into  this  world  alone,  and  we 
shall  go  out  of  it  alone.  No  one  ever  saw  us,  only  our 
bodily  frame,  the  house  we  live  in.  And  what  is  called 
death,  is  simply  leaving  this  house  of  ours.  Ordina- 
rily this  is  probably  without  the  least  suffering,  the  soul 
as  unconscious  as  when  passing  into  an  earthly  sleep. 

Man  is  made  guardian  over  himself,  and  is  created 
intensely  selfish, — using  the  word  selfish  in  its  broad 
sense.  His  own  good  must  to  him  outweigh  in  value 
the  whole  universe  beside.  Self-protection  and  self- 
advancement  is  the  first  law  of  nature.  One^s  self  is 
for  each  of  us  our  sole,  our  only  possession.  Wonder- 
ful possession !  a  soul  responsive  to  the  greatest  delights 
and  the  most  acute  anguish. 

The  divine  law,  **thou  shalt  love  thy  neighbor  as 
thyself,"  means  with  the  same  sort  of  love.  Says 
Alger  in  his  ^* Genius  of  Solitude,"  ^^  However  instinct- 
ive it  may  be,  it  is  wicked  to  have  one  set  of  feelings 
for  ourselves,  and  an  opposite  for  our  brethren.  This 
is  the  fundamental  law  of  morality,  in  which  are  bound 
up  both  the  happiness  of  the  individual  and  the  well- 
being  of  the  whole.  The  violation  of  this  law  is 
more  prolific  of  loneliness  and  misery  than  any  other 
cause. 

^^The  divine  plan  of  having  each  one  look  out  first 
and  chiefly  for  himself,  is  the  only  one  that  would 
work.  Were  philanthi'opy  universally  as  strong  as  self- 
love,  it  might  be  necessary  to  legislate  against  it  in 
order  to  protect  the  whole  of  society,  by  the  preserva- 
tion of  the  separate  individuals  who  compose  it.  Each 
first  for  himself,  and  second  for  all,  is  the  great  law  of 
nature." 

*^Itis  a  busy  life,"  Foster  says  in  his  essays,  ^Ve 
are  interested  only  about  self,  or  about  those  who  form 
a  part  of  our  self-interest.     Beyond  all  other  extrava- 


THE    PICTURE    PREACHER.  499 

gances  of  folly  is  that  of  expecting  to  live  in  a  great 
number  of  hearts." 

Indifference  to  others  does  not,  with  good  people, 
arise  from  want  of  humanity,  but  from  want  of  knowl- 
edge. Let  even  an  entire  stranger  be  in  great  physi- 
cal peril,  as  on  the  summit  of  a  burning  building,  and 
no  means  of  escape,  then  the  hearts  of  an  entire  multi- 
tude will  writhe  in  anguish  at  the  sight.  With  mental 
distress  it  is  different.  There  can  be  but  little  sympa- 
thy, because  it  cannot  be  realized  by  others.  They  do 
not  feel  the  stings  of  your  adversity,  more  than  they 
feel  a  dream  of  another  when  he  relates  it. 

An  almost  universal  complaint  of  men  plunged  from 
prosperity  to  adversity  is  that  so  many  of  their  old 
associates  pass  them  coldly  on  the  street.  The  world 
seems  to  them  heartless.  This  cuts  like  a  knife,  for 
everybody  yearns  for  recognition.  *^Dear  to  man  is 
the  face  of  his  brother  man;  pleasant  it  is  everywhere 
to  hear  this  brother-man's  voice,  and  have  interchange 
of  ideas  with  him." 

The  neglect  of  which  the  unfortunate  complain 
arises  partly  from  the  general  principle  in  the  human 
heart  of  deference  to  power.  Very  good  sort  of  peo- 
ple, humane  and  generous,  often  unconsciously  to 
themselves,  smile  upon  the  prosperous  with  extraordi- 
nary suavity.  An  old  man  illustrates  this  principle  by 
an  anecdote  in  his  experience.  **  When  I  was  a  young 
man,"  said  he,  "  my  father  died ;  and  two  brothers  of 
my  mother  came  from  another  city  to  condole  with 
her.  The  younger  was  rich ;  the  older  comparatively 
poor,  his  business  life  having  been  unfortunate;  but 
both  were  gentlemen  and  advanced  in  life.  At  dinner 
I  helped  my  youngest  uncle  first,  and  I  think  because 
he  was  so  very  rich.  But  from  that  day  to  this — after 
a  lapse  of  over  forty  years — I  look  back  upon  it  with 
shamej  as  a  slight  to  the  noble  gray-haired  old  man 
who  sat  by  his  side — shame  that  I  should  have  been 
guilty  of  such  an  act  of  toadyism.     My  daily  prayer," 


500        ROYAL  KOAD  TO  HAPPINESS;  OR 

said  he,  **  is  that  I  may  be  preserved  from  all  fawning 
to  the  prosperous ;  and  my  practice  is  to  be  especially 
kind  to  the  timid  and  the  humble,  for  it  does  make 
them  so  happy  to  be  noticed,  that  I  am  repaid  an  hun- 
dred fold." 

The  unfortunate  are  apt  to  show  it  in  their  manner. 
They  grow  morbid,  nurse  their  troubles,  and  meet 
others  with  sad  faces.  Unconsciously  we  return  a 
glance  as  it  is  given  and  avoid  meeting  the  gloomy 
ones.  The  unfortunate  man  who  preserves  his  spirits, 
and  laughing  at  adversity  again  enters  the  fight,  still 
remains  a  power,  and  his  pluck  wins  admiration.  He  is 
still  the  possessor  of  all  he  ever  truly  had — himself.  The 
same  sun  shines  above,  and  the  same  loving  hearts 
may  be  bound  to  meet  him  under  his  own  roof-tree. 

Some  thirty  or  forty  years  ago,  the  then  mayor  of 
the  city  of  New  Haven  was  at  the  head  of  a  large 
manufactory,  and  a  man  noted  for  his  noble  public 
spirit.  At  one  time  he  built  a  splendid  church  and  gave 
it  to  the  public.  He  failed  in  business.  But  with 
smiling  face  atid  cheerful  heart,  although  then  an  old, 
gray-haired  man,  he  took  a  basket  on  his  arm  and 
went  from  door  to  door  of  the  city  of  which  he  had 
been  the  first  citizen,  peddling  lamp-lighters  made  from 
wood  shavings.  They  were  of  his  own  invention. 
Never  did  the  man  appear  so  great,  so  grand  as  then : 
the  exhibition  of  a  large  soul  rising  superior  to  adver- 
sity. In  a  distant  city  he  arose  again  to  the  head  of  a 
large  establishment,  and  then  was  gathered  to  his 
fathers,  his  work  on  earth  well  done. 

Success  is  the  only  criterion  by  which  people  can 
measure  their  fellow-men.  They  have  no  time,  and 
rarely  any  of  them  brains  enough  to  discern  latent 
talents.  Such  a  man  as  William  Shakespeare,  with  his 
transcendent  intellect,  could  live  and  die  among  a  peo- 
ple, and  they  so  stupid  as  to  utterly  fail  of  being 
impressed  by  him  enough  to  preserve  anything  of 
moment  in  regard  to  his  history. 


THE    PICTURE   PREACHER.  501 

If  you  accomplish  nothing,  you  are  to  the  world  as 
nothing.  Mrs.  Hemans  once  said,  **  Life  has  but  few 
companions  for  the  delicate- minded."  Acquaintances 
we  most  of  us  have,  friendly  and  kindly-disposed, 
provided  we  are  amiable,  and  don't  ask  much  of  them ; 
but  the  pearl  of  friendship,  so  strong  as  to  lead  to  essen- 
tial sacrifices  for  us  is  very  rare.  None  but  noble 
natures  are  capable  of  this ;  and  noble  men  *^  do  not 
march  in  regiments."  Robert  Chambers,  of  the  great 
Scotch  publishing  firm  of  Chambers  Bro.,  in  his  recol- 
lections, writes,  *'  I  have  sometimes  thought  of  describ- 
ing my  bitter,  painful  youth  to  the  world,  as  some- 
thing in  which  it  might  read  a  lesson ;  but  the  retro- 
spect is  too  distressing.  The  one  grand  fact  it  has 
impressed  is  the  very  small  amount  of  brotherly  assist- 
ance there  is  in  this  world  .  .  .  Till  I  proved  I  could  help 
myself,  no  friend  came  to  me.  Uncles,  cousins,  etc., 
in  good  positions  in  life  I  had,  but  not  one  came  to 
help  me — ^not  one  offered,  or  seemed  inclined  to  give 
the  smallest  assistance.  The  consequent  self-defying 
self-relying  spirit  in  which  at  sixteen,  I  set  out  as  a 
bookseller,  with  only  my  own  small  collection  of  books 
as  a  stock — ^not  worth  more  than  two  pounds — led  to 
my  being  quickly  independent  of  all  aid ;  but  it  has 
not  been  all  a  gain,  for  I  am  now  sensible  that  my 
spirit  of  self-reliance  too  often  manifested  itself  in  an 
unsocial,  unamiable  light,  while  my  recollections  of 
'honest  poverty^  may  have  made  me  too  eager  to 
attain  and  secure  worldly  prosperity." 

It  is  best  to  face  our  own  position  among  our  fellow- 
men;  that  we  are  but  little  in  their  thoughts — that 
each  is  mainly  occupied — as,  indeed,  we  are  each  our- 
selves— ^in  thinking  and  working  for  himself.  God 
having  put  the  personality  of  each  individual  in  his 
own  keeping,  to  guide  his  own  career,  both  for  this 
world  and  the  world  to  come,  he  can  repent  of  his 
own  sins  and  not  of  his  neighbors*,  and  when  he  dies, 
even  if  a  good  man,  will  in  a  short  time  cease  to  be 


502  ROYAL    ROAD    TO    HAPPINESS;    OR 

spoken  or  thought  of,  excepting  perhaps  by  one,  two  or 
three  of  his  nearest  and  dearest  kindred,  and  then  only 
at  rapidly  lengthening  intervals,  until  even  to  them  he 
will  be  dim  in  memory  as  they  near  the  end,  which 
comes  to  all. 

The  general  view  of  the  position  of  others  does  not 
warrant  us  in  cherishing  bitterness.  With  ourselves 
they  are  struggling  in  the  stream  of  life,  weak,  erring ; 
but  with  capacities  for  nobler  things,  which  if  they  fail 
to  exercise,  they  lose  the  sweetest  of  all  joys,  the  exquis- 
ite emotion  that  comes  from  doing  good.  Another 
important  point  by  which  we  are  to  be  governed  is  not 
to  trouble  ourselves  overmuch  in  regard  to  what  others 
say  of  us.  Only  do  right,  and  we  are  certain  to  be  a 
pleasant  thought  with  others.  This  they  cannot  help, 
for  virtue  never  fails  to  make  its  impress.  Like  a  dia- 
mond, purity  of  character  ever  sparkles,  and  sparkles 
the  brightest  from  out  of  the  darkest  and  most  gloomy 
surroundings,  as  the  stars  of  heaven  in  the  blackest 
night 


THE   MICE   IN    COUNCIL. 

The  mice  called  a  general  council ;  and  having  met 
after  the  doors  were  locked,  entered  into  a  free  con- 
sultation about  ways  and  means  how  to  render  their 
fortunes  and  estates  more  secure  from  the  danger  of 
the  cat.  Many  things  were  offered,  and  much  was 
debated  pro  and  con,  upon  the  matter. 

At  last,  a  young  mouse,  in  a  fine  florid  speech,  con- 
cluded upon  an  expedient,  and  that  the  only  one 
which  was  to  put  them  for  the  future  entirely  out  of 
the  power  of  the  enemy ;  and  this  was,  that  the  cat 
should  wear  a  bell  about  her  neck,  which,  upon  the 
least  motion,  would  give  the  alaim,  and  be  a  signal  for 
them  to  retire  into  their  holes.     Tliis  speech  was  re- 


THE   PICTURE   PKEACHEK. 


503 


Admirable  if 
i|i     Pi'acticable. 


Ill:" 


THE  MICE  IN  COUNCIL. 


Who  is  this  that  darJceneth  counsel  hy  words  without  Jcnowl- 

edge.     Job  xxxviii.  2. N'ow  therefore  consider  what  ye  have 

to  do.     Judg.  xviii.  U. This  their  way  is  their  folly,     Psa. 

xlix.  13. Israel  shall  he  ashamed  of  his  own  counsel.     Hosea 

X.  6. See  then  that  ye  walk  circumspectly^  not  as  fools  hut 

as  wise.     Eph.  v.  15. The  wisdom  of  the  prudent  is  to  under- 
stand his  way.    Prov.  xiv.  8, 


504        ROYAL  ROAD  TO  HAPPINESS;  OR 

ceived  with  great  applause,  and  it  was  even  proposed 
by  some,  that  the  mouse  who  made  it  should  have  the 
thanks  of  the  assembly. 

Upon  which,  an  old  grave  mouse,  who  had  sat  silent 
all  the  while,  stood  up,  and  in  another  speech,  owned 
that  the  contrivance  was  admirable,  and  the  author  of 
it,  without  doubt,  an  ingenious  mouse ;  but,  he  said, 
he  thought  it  would  not  be  so  proper  to  vote  him 
thanks,  till  he  should  farther  inform  them  how  this  bell 
was  to  be  fastened  about  the  cat's  neck,  and  what 
mouse  would  undertake  to  do  it? 

Application. — Many  things  appear  sensible  in  specu- 
lation, which  are  afterwards  found  to  be  impracticable. 
And  since  the  execution  of  anything  is  that  which  is  to 
complete  and  finish  its  very  existence,  what  raw  coun- 
sellors are  those  who  advise,  what  precipitate  politi- 
cians those  who  proceed  to,  the  management  of  things 
in  their  nature  incapable  of  answering  their  own  ex- 
pectations, or  their  promises  to  others  !  At  the  same 
time,  the  fable  teaches  us  not  to  expose  ourselves  in 
any  of  our  little  coffee-house  committees,  by  determin- 
ing what  should  be  done  upon  every  occmTence  of 
mal-administration,  when  we  have  neither  commission 
nor  power  to  execute  it. 

He  that,  upon  such  occasion,  adjudges  as  a  pre- 
servative of  the  state,  that  this  or  that  should  be  ap- 
plied to  the  neck  of  those  w^ho  have  been  enemies  to 
it,  will  appear  full  as  ridiculous  as  the  mouse  in  the 
fable,  when  the  question  is  asked,  who  shall  put  it 
there  ? 

In  reality,  we  do  but  expose  ourselves  to  the  hatred 
of  some,  and  the  contempt  of  others,  when  we  inad- 
vertently utter  our  impracticable  speculations,  in  re- 
spect of  the  public,  either  in  private  company,  or 
authorized  assemblies. 

Speculation  is  good,  but  it  must  go  so  far  as  to  include 
ways  and  means  for  securing  the  result  contemplated. 
Otherwise  it  is  but  a  broken  bridge. 


f  ^NIVERI 


^NIVERS 

CAL IFOR^ 
THE   PICTURE   PREACHER.  505 

GAMBLING. 


The  engraving  shows  one  of  the  numerous  well 
authenticated  cases  of  the  direful  effects  of  gaming — a 
suicide  which  took  place  some  years  since  at  one  of 
the  principal  hotels  in  Cincinnati.  The  account  is 
given  by  Mr.  Green,  the  refonned  gambler,  in  his  little 
work  on  gambling. 

The  suicide  was  a  foreigner  of  high  parentage,  a 
gentleman  of  noble  impulses,  bred  in  the  lap  of  luxury, 
who  until  within  two  or  three  years  of  his  death  sus- 
tained an  unblemished  reputation.  He  landed  in  New 
York  with  $70,000  in  money,  nearly  half  of  which 
belonged  to  his  motherless  daughters.  His  object  was 
to  find  a  pleasant  place  of  residence  in  this  country 
and  then  return  and  bring  them  over. 

He  accepted  an  invitation  from  a  countryman,  an 
old  friend,  residing  in  New  York,  to  make  his  house 
his  home  while  in  the  city.  His  first  downward  step 
arose  from  his  using  wine  at  the  table  of  his  friend, 
and  then  passing  the  evenings  with  him  in  social  card 
playing,  at  which  he  soon  became  an  adept. 

After  this  he  went  west,  and  at  Pittsburgh  joined  a 
party  going  down  the  Ohio  in  a  steamer.  On  board 
the  boat,  to  pass  away  the  time,  he  was  induced  to  join 
in  a  game  of  cards.  By  the  invitation  of  a  lady-like 
woman  against  whom  he  played,  he  was  led  to  drink 
wine  which  had  been  drugged  and  lost  the  game.  His 
partner  was  a  gambler  and  husband  of  the  winner. 
Between  them  he  lost  over  $2,000  before  they  arrived 
at  Cincinnati. 

From  thence  he  went  to  Louisville,  where  he  was 
invited  by  a  gentleman  to  whom  he  had  a  letter  of 
introduction  to  dine  with  him  in  company  with  some 
brother  merchants.  Cards  were  introduced  and  he 
won  a  small  sum.  But  finding  his  money  gradually 
wasting  away,  he  left  for  Texas  where  his  now  master 
passion  led  him  into  association  with  gamblers  and 

22 


506 


ROYAL    ROAD    TO   HAPPINESS;    OR 


DIREFUL  EFFECT  OF  GAMING. 


But  they  that  will  he  rich  fall  into  temptation  and  a  snare,  and 
into  many  foolish  and  hurtful  lusts,  which  drown  men  in  de- 
struction and  perdition,     I.  Tim.  vi.  9. He  that  maJceth  haste 

to  he  rich  shall  not  he  innocent,     Prov.  xxviii.  20. A  compan- 
ion of  fools  shall  he  destroyed,     Prov.  xiii.  20. But  every  man 

is  tempted  when  he  is  drawn  away  and  enticed,     James  i.  14. 

There  is  that  maheth  itself  rich,  yet  hath  nothing,     Prov,  xiiL  7. 

Thou  shalt  not  covet,    Exod.  xx.  17. Mortify  therefore, .... 

covetousneea  which  is  idolatry,    CoL  iii  6. 


THE    PICTURE    PREACHER.  507 

drinking  men,  until  he  was  robbed  of  nearly  his  last 
dollar. 

He  thereupon  returned  to  Cincinnati  and  while  there 
implored  Mr.  Green  to  lend  him  865  with  which  to 
settle  his  board  bill  and  leave  the  city.  Having  paid 
his  bill,  his  insatiable  passion  for  the  gambling  table 
led  him  to  make  another  venture  before  leaving,  when 
he  lost  everything.  Thereupon  he  returned  to  his  hotel 
where  he  wrote  several  affectionate  farewell  letters  to 
his  friends  and  then  blew  out  his  brains  with  a  pistol. 

Gambling  for  money  directly  is  no  worse  than  gam- 
bling in  stocks.  Both  alike  often  lead  to  suicide  and 
both  are  founded  upon  the  same  vile,  ignoble,  and  dev- 
ilish principle  of  trying  to  rise  solely/  upon  an  injury  to 
another.  ^^He  that  hasteth  to  be  rich  shall  not  be 
innocent."  Worth  of  character  is  bej^ond  all  price, 
and  he  that  pollutes  his  own  soul  for  gold  has  sunk  low 
indeed.  What  signifieth  it,  if  one  gain  the  whole 
world  and  loseth  his  own  soul  ? 


PEACE. 

[Written  for  this  work  by  Henry  Howe.] 

The  engraving  represents  a  little  child  clad  in  gar- 
ments of  white,  standing  on  the  banks  of  a  calm,  beau- 
tiful lake,  her  arms  filled  with  flowers.  By  her  side  is 
a  lamb,  type  of  innocence  and  purity.  Amid  a  bower 
of  roses  blossoming  in  fragrance,  perched  on  a  hang- 
ing branch  rest  a  pair  of  turtle  doves,  happy  in  each 
other's  love.  The  skies  are  smiling,  and  the  whole 
scene  is  one  of  quiet  content  and  happiness. 

Amid  all  the  conflicts  of  life  the  upright  man  ever 
looks  forward  to  and  hopes  for  peace  and  rest.  Some 
of  the  most  sanguinary  wars  have  been  undertaken 
simply  to  conquer  a  peace — to  put  a  final  end  to  en- 
croachments that  were  disturbing  the  quiet  of  a  nation. 


508 


BOYAL   KOAD   TO   HAPPINESS;    OR 


THE  BLESSING  OF  PEACE. 


On  earth  peace  and  good  will  to  men,     Luke  ii.  14. Great 

peace  have  they  that  love  thy  law,     Psa.  cxix.  165.     A^id  I  will 

give  peace  in  the  land.     Lev.  xxvi.  6. To  the  counsellors  of 

peace  is  joy,     Prov.  xii.  20. And  the  work  of  righteousness 

shall  be  peace;  aiid  the  effect  of  righteous  quietness  and  assurance 

forever,     Isa.  xxxii.  17. Let  us  therefore  follow  after  the  things 

which  make  for  peace,    Rom.  xiv.  19. And  he  at  peace  among 

yourselves.    L  Thess.  v.  13. 


THE    PICTURE    PREACHER.  509 

Several  centuries  back  the  ever  valorous  Irish — if 
we  may  believe  Stanihurst,  a  very  old  historian, — bap- 
tized their  children  by  immersion,  but  kept  the  right 
arm  of  the  males  out  of  the  water;  alleging  as  the 
reason,  that  they  chose  to  let  original  sin  remain  in 
that  arm,  so  that  hj  means  of  the  moral  venom  con- 
tained therein,  it  might  give  the  more  deadly  blows  in 
battle. 

To  live  in  peace  with  one's  neighbors,  friends  and 
even  family,  is  often  very  difficult  But  the  wise  and 
virtuous  will  labor  for  this,  for  it  is  indispensable ;  we 
cannot  have  misunderstandings  with  others  without 
having  our  own  peace  disturbed ;  one  to  be  happy  must 
be  at  peace  with  all  men.  In  most  cases  if  one  abuses 
you,  it  is  best  to  answer  him,  if  at  all,  mildly  and 
quit  his  company ;  if  he  slanders  you,  live  so  that 
none  will  believe  him.  There  is  nothing  so  wise  as 
the  cool,  calm,  quiet  way  of  dealing  with  wrongs.  It  is 
generally  effectual.  The  old  proverb  should  be  ever 
remembered:  "Where  one  will  not,  two  cannot  fight." 
Oftentimes  nothing  is  so  exasperating  and  mortifying 
to  quarrelsome  persons  as  silent  contempt.  It  makes 
them  feel  their  inferiority  as  nothing  else  can. 

Formerly  our  editors  of  newspapers  largely  indulged 
in  their  columns  in  personal  abuse  of  those  who  con- 
ducted papers  of  opposite  politics — a  habit  which  is 
happily  disappearing.  At  that  period  Mr.  K.,  a  friend 
of  the  writer,  was  editing  a  daily  paper  in  one  of  our 
thriving  cities.  It  was  his  inflexible  rule  to  avoid  all 
disagreeable  personalities.  He  was  on  one  occasion 
called  upon  by  a  Mr.  C.  who  stated  that  he  was  about 
to  establish  a  newspaper  of  opposite  politics ;  that  he 
had  called  to  make  his  personal  acquaintance,  and 
wished  to  be  on  good  neighborly  terms.  Mr.  K.  re- 
ceived him  in  a  very  kindly  spirit,  fully  reciprocating 
his  sentiments  of  good  will,  and  stating  that  of  all  silly 
follies,  that  of  fostering  ill  will  toward  those  of  differ- 
ent politics  was  one  of  the  weakest ;  that  difference  of 


510  ROYAL   ROAD   TO   HAPPINESS;   OR 

politics  was  simply  honest  difference  of  opinion  as  to  the 
best  methods  of  secunng  good  government. 

What  was  the  astonishment  of  Mr.  K.  on  opening 
the  first  issue  of  his  neighbor  Mr.  C.  to  find  a  leading 
column  devoted  to  foul  personal  abuse  of  himself! 
And  this  was  continued  more  or  less,  week  after  week. 
Mr.  K.  never  noticed  it  in  the  least,  maintaining  a  dig- 
nified silence,  whereat  the  other  complained  bitterly  ! 

The  Society  of  Friends,  the-  peace-loving  Quakers, 
are  perhaps  the  most  happy  people  upon  the  face  of 
the  earth.  They  do  not  allow  lawsuits  between  them- 
selves but  settle  all  their  differences  by  arbitration. 
They  cultivate  calmness  of  spirit,  moderation  and 
modesty  of  speech,  and  simplicity  of  manner.  Life 
moves  on  with  them  in  peace  and  beauty.  The  self- 
sacrificing  Sisters  of  Charity,  who  give  their  entire  lives 
to  ministering  to  the  sick  and  suffering,  have  a  wonder- 
fully calm,  placid  expression  of  countenance,  showing 
the  effect  of  a  life  of  practical  benevolence  in  render- 
ing the  face  serenely  beautiful. 

The  invocation  to  peace  in  the  liturgy  of  the  English 
church  which  always  closes  the  services  of  all  the  Pro- 
testant Episcopal  churches  throughout  the  globe,  is  one 
of  the  most  beautiful,  solemn  utterances  that  can  fall 
from  human  lips ;  one  of  the  most  soothing,  quieting, 
that  can  enter  human  hearts.  Then  it  is  that  the  Priest, 
standing  in  his  robes  of  snowy  white,  with  outstretched 
palms  in  the  presence  of  the  assembled  worshipers, 
with  bowed  heads,  utters  these  words  in  tones  like 
calming  music : 

"And  now  may  the  peace  of  God,  which  passeth  all  understand- 
ing, keep  your  hearts  and  minds  in  tlie  knowledge  and  love- of 
God,  and  of  his  Son  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord:  And  the  Blessing  of 
God  Almighty,  the  Father,  the  Son  and  the  Holy  Ghost,  be 
amongst  you,  and  remain  with  you  always.     Amen,'*'' 

As  the  last  word  dies  away,  for  a  moment  the  silence, 
still  as  of  death,  remains  unbroken,  for  every  heart  has 
been  touched  by  the  solemnity  of  the  appeal ;  then  a 


THE   PICTURE   PREACHEK.  511 

slight  rustling  sound,  as  leaves  stirred  by  tlie  wind, 
rises  from  everywhere,  increasing  into  a  general  sea  of 
sound.  A  few  minutes  later  the  sanctuary  is  vacant 
and  the  worshipers  are  out  under  the  blue  skies,  mostly 
in  loving  family  bands  on  the  way  to  their  homes 
refreshed  and  invigorated  by  drinking  at  tlie  pure,  holy 
fountain  from  whence  issue  the  waters  of  life,  *^the 
peace  of  God  which  passeth  all  understanding." 

What  a  wonderful  being  is  man !  how  awful  the 
mysteries  which  envelop  him !  Amid  his  distresses 
and  conflicts  he  looks  beyond  for  peace.  He  hungers 
and  thirsts  after  righteousness,  which  proves  that  the 
germ  of  holiness  is  inborn  with  his  natm-e ;  and  so  he 
builds  temples  to  the  living  God  and  devotes  one  day 
in  seven,  a  calm,  restful  day,  to  his  worship,  for  in  his 
sad  helplessness  and  dreary  loneliness,  he  wants  God 
in  the  world  —  wants  the  loving,  the  peace-filling 
Father. 


"  We  are  spirits  clad  in  veils, 
Man  by  man  was  never  seen ; 
All  our  high  communing  fails 
To  move  the  shadowy  screen. 

"  Man  by  man  was  never  known, 
Mind  with  mind  did  never  meet ; 
We  are  columns  left  alone 
Of  a  temple  once  complete." 


HOMELY  VIRTUES: 


GUIDE  TO  A  HAPPY  LIFE. 


BY 

TIMOTHY    DWIGHT,    LL.D.,    S.T.D., 

Chaplain  of  thk  Continental  Army  in  thb  War  of  the  Revolution,  and  for 
Twenty-two  Years  President  of  Yale  College. 

(Written  in  1794.) 


INTRODUCTION. 


SCOPE  AND  PLAN  OF  POEM. 

Author^s  Address, — Farmer  introduced — Villagers  asspmbled — 
He  recommends  to  them  an  indastriovs  and  oeconomical  life; 
the  careful  education  and  government  of  their  children^  and 
particularly  the  establishment  of  good  habits  in  early  life; 
enjoins  upon  them  the  offices  of  good  neighbourhood ,  the  avoid- 
ance of  litigatlony  and  the  careful  cultivation  of  parochial 
harmony —  Con  elusion. 


GUIDE  TO  A  HAPPY  LIFE, 


INTRODUCTION. 

E  children  of  my  fondest  care, 
With  tenderest  love,  and  frequent  prayer, 
This  solemn  charge,  my  voice  has  given. 
To  prompt,  and  guide,  your  steps  to  heaven. 
Your  present  welfare  now  demands 
A  different  tribute,  from  my  hands. 

Not  long  since  liv'd  a  Farmer  plain, 

Intent  to  gather  honest  gain. 

Laborious,  prudent,  thrifty,  neat, 

Of  judgment  strong,  experience  great. 

In  solid  homespun  clad,  and  tidy, 

And  with  no  coxcomb  learning  giddy. 

Daily,  to  hear  his  maxims  sound, 

Th'  approaching  neighbours  flocked  around ; 

Daily  they  saw  his  counsels  prove 

The  source  of  union,  peace,  and  love. 

The  means  of  prudence,  and  of  wealth, 

Of  comfort,  cheerfulness  and  health : 

And  all,  who  followed  his  advice, 

Appeared  more  prosperous,  as  more  wise. 

Wearied,  at  length,  with  many  a  call, 
The  sage  resolved  to  summon  all : 

515 


516        ROYAL  ROAD  TO  HAPPINESS;  OR 

And  gathering,  on  a  pleasant  Monday, 
A  crowd,  not  always  seen  on  Sunday, 
Curious  to  hear,  while  hard  they  press'd  him. 
In  friendly  terms,  he  thus  address'd  'em. 


ADDRESS. 

"My  friends,  you  have  my  kindest  wishes; 
Pray  think  a  neighbour  not  officious, 
While  thus,  to  teach  you  how  to  live. 
My  very  best  advice  I  give." 

"  And  first,  industrious  be  your  lives  ; 
Alike  employed  yourselves,  and  wives: 
Your  children,  join'd  in  labour  gay. 
With  something  useful  fill  each  day. 
Those  little  times  of  leisure  save. 
Which  most  men  lose,  and  all  men  have ; 
The  half  days,  when  a  job  is  done ; 
The  whole  days,  when  a  storm  is  on. 
Few  know,  without  a  strict  account, 
To  what  these  little  times  amount : 
If  wasted,  while  the  same  your  cost. 
The  sums,  you  might  have  earn'd,  are  lost.' 

"  Learn  small  things  never  to  despise : 

You  little  think  how  fast  they  rise. 

A  rich  reward  the  mill  obtains, 

'Tho'  but  two  quarts  a  bushel  gains  : 

Still  rolling  on  its  steady  rounds. 

The  farthings  soon  are  turn'd  to  pounds.'* 

"  Nor  think  a  life  of  toil  severe : 
No  life  has  blessings  so  sincere. 


GUIDE   TO   A   HAPPY    LIFE.  517 

It's  meals  so  luscious,  sleep  so  sweet, 

Such  vigorous  limbs,  such  health  complete, 

A  mind  so  active,  brisk,  and  gay. 

As  his,  who  toils  the  livelong  day. 

A  life  of  sloth  drags  hardly  on  ; 

Suns  set  too  late,  and  rise  too  soon  ; 

Youth,  manhood,  age,  all  linger  slow. 

To  him,  who  nothing  has  to  do. 

The  drone,  a  nuisance  to  the  hive. 

Stays,  but  can  scarce  be  said  to  live  : 

And  well  the  bees,  those  judges  wise, 

Plague,  chase,  and  sting  him,  'till  he  dies. 

Lawrence,  like  him,  tho'  saved  from  hanging, 

Yet  every  day  deserves  a  banging." 

"  Let  order  o'er  your  time  preside, 

And  method  all  your  business  guide. 

Early  begin,  and  end,  your  toil ; 

Nor  let  great  tasks  your  hands  embroil. 

One  thing  at  once,  be  still  begun, 

Contrived,  resolved,  pursued,  and  done. 

Hire  not,  for  what  yourselves  can  do  ; 

And  send  not,  when  yourselves  can  go ; 

Nor,  till  to-morrow's  light,  delay 

What  might  as  well  be  done  to-day. 

By  steady  efforts  all  men  thrive. 

And  long  by  moderate  labour  live. 

While  eager  toil,*  and  anxious  care. 

Health,  strength,  and  peace,  and  life,  impair." 

**  What  thus  your  hands  with  labour  earn. 
To  save,  be  now  your  next  concern. 


518  ROYAL   ROAD   TO   HAPPINESS;    OR 

Whatever  to  health,  or  real  use, 
Or  true  enjoyment,  will  conduce. 
Use  freely,  and  with  pleasure  use ; 
But  ne'er  the  gifts  of  Heaven  abuse : 
I  joy  to  see  your  treasur'd  stores, 
Which  smiling  Plenty  copious  pours. 


PEACE  AND  PLENTY. 


Your  cattle  sleek,  your  poultry  fine, 
Your  cider  in  the  tumbler  shine, 
Your  tables,  smoking  from  the  hoard. 
And  children  smilins:  round  the  board. 
All  rights  to  use  in  you  conspire ; 
The  labourer's  worthy  of  his  hire. 


GUIDE   TO   A   HAPPY   LIFE.  619 

Ne'er  may  that  hated  day  arrive, 

When  worse  yourselves,  or  your's,  shall  live ; 

Your  dress,  your  lodging,  or  your  food. 

Be  less  abundant,  neat,  or  good  ; 

Your  dainties  all  to  market  go. 

To  feast  the  epicure,  and  beau  ; 

But  ever  on  your  tables  stand. 

Proofs  of  a  free  and  happy  land/' 

"  Yet  still,  with  prudence,  wear,  and  taste ; 
Use  what  you  please,  but  nothing  waste : 
On  little,  better  far  to  live, 
Than,  poor  and  pitied,  much  survive. 
Like  ants,  lay  something  up  in  store. 
Against  the  winter  of  threescore. 
Disease  may  long  your  strength  annoy ; 
Weakness  and  pain  your  limbs  destroy ; 
On  sorrow's  bed  your  households  lie  ; 
Your  debtors  fail,  your  cattle  die ; 
Your  crops  untimely  seasons  kill. 
And  life  be  worn  with  many  an  ill." 

"  Lo,  too,  your  little  flocks  demand 
Much  from  the  kind  parental  hand ; 
Your  sons,  or  learning,  trades,  or  farms ; 
Your  daughter's  portions,  with  their  charms; 
From  prudence,  this  provision  flows, 
*  And  all,  from  little  savings,  grows." 

"  And,  O  ye  fair !  this  toil  demands 

The  efforts  of  your  faithful  hands. 

If  wealth,  your  husband's  hearts  are  wishing, 

Of  you,  they  first  must  ask  permission. 


520  ROYAL   ROAD   TO   HAPPINESS;    OR 

By  Heaven  conjoined,  to  gain,  and  have, 
*Tis  their's  to  earn  ;  'tis  yours  to  save : 
Whatever  from  their  labour  grows, 
Careful,  you  keep,  but,  heedless,  lose.*' 

"  Tis  folly  in  th'  extreme,  to  till 
Extensive  fields,  and  till  them  ill. 
The  farmer,  pleas'd,  may  boast  aloud 
His  bushels  sown,  his  acres  ploughed  ; 
And,  pleas'd,  indulge  the  cheering  hope. 
That  time  will  bring  a  plenteous  crop. 


PLOUGHING   THE   ACRES. 


Shrewd  Common-sense  sits  laughing  by. 

And  sees  his  hopes  abortive  die : 

For,  when  maturing  seasons  smile. 

Thin  sheaves  shall  disappoint  his  toil. 

Advis'd,  this  empty  pride  expel ; 

Till  little,  and  that  little  well. 

Of  taxes,  fencing,  toil,  no  more. 

Your  ground  requires,  when  rich,  than  poor; 


GUIDE   TO   A   HAPPY   LIFE.  521 

And  more  one  fertile  acre  yields, 
Than  the  huge  breadth  of  barren  fields. 
That  mould,  the  leaves,  for  ages,  spread, 
Is,  long  since,  with  the  forests,  fled ; 
That  slender  ploughing,  trifling  care. 
No  longer  will  your  fields  prepare. 
Some  new  manure  must  now  be  found  ; 
Some  better  culture  fit  the  ground. 
Oft  turn  the  soil  to  feel  the  weather ; 
Manure  from  every  quarter  gather, 
Weeds,  ashes,  Paris-plaister,  lime, 
Marie,  sea- weed,  and  the  harbour  slime. 
Like  Germans  bid  your  acres  thrive ; 
But  not  like  stinting  Germans  live." 

"  Let  every  grass  of  kindly  seed 
Exterminate  the  noisome  weed ; 
The  clover  round  your  pastures  blow ; 
The  rye-grass  o'er  your  meadows  bow ; 
Hence  the  rich  mow  your  barns  shall  fill  ; 
Hence  with  rich  green  your  pastures  smile ; 
The  ox,  untir'd,  his  toil  sustain, 
And  fat  steers  frisk  it,  o'er  the  plain." 

"Your  herds  feed  well,  increase,  amend, 
And  from  the  wintery  storm  defend. 
No  source  will  surer  profit  give. 
Or  furnish  easier  means  to  live. 
The  grazier  hugs  his  cool  retreat. 
And  smiles,  to  see  the  farmer  sweat ; 
To  see  much  labour  little  yield. 
The  gleanings  of  a  worne-out  field ; 


522        ROYAL  ROAD  TO  HAPPINESS;  OR 

While  glistening  beeves  around  him  sport, 
And  drovers  to  his  house  resort ; 
Manur'd,  huge  swarths  his  meadows  load, 
And  heavy  harvests  proudly  nod/' 

"Let  useful  flocks  your  care  demand, 
Best  riches  of  a  happy  land. 
From  them,  shall  swell  the  fleecy  store, 
And  want,  and  rags,  depart  your  door  ; 


CRUELi'Y. 


Your  daughters  find  a  sweet  employ. 
And,  singing,  turn  the  wheel  with  joy: 
With  homespun  rich  the  loom  be  gay  ; 
Your  households  clad  in  bright  array ; 
And  female  toil  more  profit  yield, 
Than  half  the  labours  of  the  field." 

"  When  first  the  market  offers  well, 
At  once  your  yearly  produce  sell. 


GUIDE   TO    A    HAPPY    LIFE.  523 

A  higher  price  you  wait  in  vain, 
And  ten  times  lose,  where  once  you  gain. 
The  dog,  that  at  the  shadow  caught, 
Miss'd  all  he  had,  and  all  he  sought. 

"  Less,  day  by  day,  your  store  will  grow, 
Gone,  you  scarce  know  or  when,  or  how ; 
Interest  will  eat,  while  you  delay. 
And  vermin  steal  your  hopes  away. 
In  parcels  sold,  in  ways  unknown, 
It  melts,  and,  unobserved,  is  gone. 
No  solid  purpose  driblets  aid. 
Spent,  and  forgot,  as  soon  as  paid  : 
The  sum,  a  year's  whole  earnings  yield, 
AVill  pay  a  debt,  or  buy  a  field.'' 

"  In  time,  whate'er  your  needs  require. 
Lay  in,  of  clothing,  food,  or  fire. 
Your  cellars,  barns,  and  granaries  fill  ; 
Your  wood,  in  winter,  round  you  pile: 
Let  spring  ne'er  see  th'  exhausted  mow. 
Or  oxen  faint,  before  the  plough ; 
Nor  summer,  when  its  hurries  come. 
Your  wood,  in  harvest,  carted  home." 

"  Along  the  side  of  sloping  hills. 
Conduct  your  numerous  living  rills. 
Thence  bid  them,  sweetly-wandering,  flow. 
To  wake  the  grass,  in  fields  below. 
Rich  meadows  in  their  course  shall  spring. 
And  mowers  whet  the  scythe,  and  sing." 

"  Look  round,  and  see  your  woods  clecay'd, 
Your  fuel  scarce,  your  timber  fled. 


524  ROYAL   ROAD   TO   HAPPINESS;    OR 

What  groves  remain  with  care  enclose, 

Nor  e'er  to  biting  herds  expose. 

Your  store  with  planted  nuts  renew, 

And  acorns  o'er  each  barren  strew. 

Tho'  spring  now  smiles,  yet  winter's  blast 

Will  soon  the  frozen  skies  o'ercast; 

And,  pinch'd,  your  children  crowding  nigher. 

Hang  shivering  o'er  the  scanty  fire : 

Eouse  !  your  reluctant  sloth  o'ercome. 

And  bid  reviving  forests  bloom." 

"  Yearly  the  house,  the  barn,  the  fence. 
Demand  much  care,  and  some  expence. 


NEGLECT. 


Small  sums,  in  time,  with  prudence  paid, 
Will  profit  more  than  great,  delay'd : 
Each  year's  decays  in  time  repair, 
Nor  foolish  waste,  thro'  want  of  care." 


"Neat  be  your  farms :  'tis  long  confessed, 
Th^  neatest  farmers  are  the  best. 
Each  bog,  and  marsh,  industrious  drain. 
Nor  let  vile  balks  deform  the  plain  ; 


GUIDE   TO   A   HAPPY   LIFE.  525 

No  bushes  on  your  headlands  grow, 

Nor  briars  a  sloven's  culture  show. 

Neat  be  your  barns ;  your  houses  neat ; 

Your  doors  be  clean  ;  your  court-yards  sweet ; 

No  moss  the  sheltering  roof  inshroud  ; 

No  wooden  panes  the  window  cloud ; 

No  filthy  kennel  foully  flow ; 

Nor  weeds  with  rankling  poison  grow  : 


DISORDER. 


But  shades  expand,  and  fruit-trees  bloom, 
And  flowering  shrubs  exhale  perfume. 
With  pales,  your  garden  circle  round; 
Defend,  enrich,  and  clean,  the  ground : 
Prize  high  this  pleasing,  useful  rood, 
And  fill  with  vegetable  good." 

"  With  punctual  hand  your  taxes  pay, 
Nor  put  far  ofi*  the  evil  day. 


526  ROYAL   ROAD   TO   HAPPINESS;    OR 

How  soon  to  an  enormous  size, 
Taxes,  succeeding  taxes,  rise ! 
How  easy,  one  by  one,  discharged ! 
How  hardly,  in  the  mass  enlarged ! 
How  humbling  the  intrusive  dun ! 
How  fast,  how  far,  th'  expences  run  ! 
Fees,  advertisements,  travel,  cost. 
And  that  sad  end  of  all,  the  post ! 
This  gulph  of  quick  perdition  flee, 
And  live,  from  duns  and  bailiffs  free." 

"  In  merchants'  books,  from  year  to  year, 
Be  cautious  how  your  names  appear. 
How  fast  their  little  items  count ! 
How  great,  beyond  your  hopes,  th'  amount ! 
When  shelves,  o'er  shelves,  inviting  stand, 
And  wares  allure,  on  either  hand  ; 
While  round,  you  turn  enchanted  eyes. 
And  feel  a  thousand  wants  arise, 
(Ye  young,  ye  fair,  these  counsels  true 
Are  penned  for  all,  but  most  for  you), 
Ere  Fancy  leads  your  hearts  astray, 
Think  of  the  nieans  you  have  to  pay ; 
What  wants  are  nature's  ;  fancy's  what ; 
What  will  yield  real  good,  when  bought ; 
What  certain,  future  means  you  find, 
To  cancel  contracts,  left  behind  ; 
What  means  to  make  the  first  of  May 
To  you,  and  your's,  a  welcome  day." 

"  To  you,  let  each  returning  spring 
That  day  of  certain  reckoning  bring  ; 


GUIDE   TO    A    HAPPY    LIFE.  627 

All  debts  to  cancel,  books  t'  adjust, 
And  check  the  wild  career  of  trust. 
From  frequent  reckonings  friendship  grows, 
And  peace,  and  sweet  communion  flows." 

"  Meanwhile,  of  all  your  toil,  and  care, 
Your  children  claim  the  largest  share. 
In  health,  and  sickness,  much  they  need. 
To  nurse,  to  watch,  to  clothe,  and  feed ; 
Their  education  much  demands 
.From  faithful  hearts,  and  active  hands." 

"  First  be  their  health  your  constant  care  ; 
Give  them  to  breathe  the  freest  air  : 
Their  food  be  neither  rich,  nor  dainty. 
But  plain,  and  clean,  and  good,  and  plenty  : 
Their  clothes,  let  changing  seasons  rule. 
In  winter  warm,  in  summer  cool. 
In  your  own  houses  spun,  and  dy*d. 
For  comfort  made,  and  not  for  pride. 
Hardy,  not  suffering,  be  their  life, 
With  heat,  and  cold,  and  storm,  at  strife  ; 
Accustomed  common  ills  to  bear. 
To  smile  at  danger,  laugh  at  fear. 
Troubles  to  brave,  with  hardy  breast, 
And  seek,  thro'  toilsome  action,  rest. 
Teach  them  each  manly  art  to  prize. 
And  base  effeminacy  despise. 
Teach  them  to  wrestle,  leap,  and  run. 
To  win  the  palm,  and  prize  it,  won  ; 
To  seek,  in  acts  like  these,  and  find 
A  nervous  frame,  and  vigorous  mind." 


528  KOYAL   ROAD   TO   HAPPINESS;    OR 

"My  country's  youth,  I  see  with  pain, 
The  customs  of  their  sires  disdain. 
Quit  the  bold  pastimes  of  the  green, 
That  strengthen  striplings  into  men, 
Grovel  in  inns,  at  cards,  and  dice, 
The  means  of  foul  disease,  and  vice. 
And  waste,  in  gaming,  drink,  and  strife, 
Health,  honour,  fame,  and  peace,  and  life/' 

"  With  gentler  hand,  your  daughters  train. 

The  housewife's  various  arts  to  gain  ; 

O'er  scenes  domestic  to  preside  ; 

The  needle,  wheel,  and  shuttle,  guide  ; 

The  peacock's  gaudry  to  despise, 

And  view  vain  sports  with  j)arents'  eyes  ; 

On  things  of  use  to  fix  the  heart, 

And  gild,  with  every  graceful  art. 

Teach  them,  with  neatest,  simplest  dress, 

A  neat,  and  lovely  mind  t'  express ; 

Th'  alluring  female  mien  to  wear ; 

Gently  to  soothe  corroding  care ; 

Bid  life  with  added  pleasure  glow. 

And  sweetly  charm  the  bed  of  woe. 

To  show,  the  giddy  fair-one  train' d. 

With  every  ugly  spot  is  stain' d  ; 

While  she,  who  lives  to  worth,  and  duty. 

Shines  forth,  in  Wisdom's  eye,  a  beauty." 

"  With  steady  hand  your  household  sway. 
And  use  them  always  to  obey. 
Always  their  worthy  acts  commend  ; 
Always  against  their  faults  contend ; 


GUIDE   TO   Jl   happy    LIFE.  529 

The  mind  inform  ;  the  conscience  move  ; 
And  blame,  with  tenderness,  and  love. 
When  round  they  flock,  and  smile,  and  tell 
Their  lambkin  sports,  and  infant  weal. 
Nor  foolish  laugh,  nor  fret,  nor  frown  ; 
But  all  their  little  interests  own ; 
Like  them,  those  trifles  serious  deem. 
And  daily  witness  your  esteem  : 
Yourselves  their  best  friends  always  prove. 
For  filial  duty  springs  from  love. 
Teach  them,  with  confidence  t'  impart, 
Each  secret  purpose  of  the  heart : 
Thrice  happy  parents,  children  bless'd. 
Of  mutual  confidence  possessed  ! 
Such  parents  shall  their  children  see 
From  vice,  and  shame,  and  anguish,  free." 

"  Correct  not,  'till  the  coming  day 
Has  fann'd  resentment's  heat  away. 
When  passion  rules,  'tis  fear  obeys ; 
But  duty  serves,  when  reason  sways. 
In  earliest  years,  the  rod  will  mend ; 
In  later,  fails  to  reach  the  end. 
Still  vary :  let  neglect,  disgrace. 
Confinement,  censure,  find  their  place. 
Convince,  ere  you  correct,  and  prove 
You  punish,  not  from  rage,  but  love ; 
And  teach  them,  with  persuasion  mild, 
You  hate  the  fault,  but  love  the  child." 

"  All  discipline,  as  facts  attest, 
In  private  minister'd  is  best. 

31 


530  ROYAL   ROAD    TO    HAPPINESS;    OR 

Vex'd  to  be  seen  disgrac'd,  and  sham'd, 
His  passion  rous'd,  his  pride  infiam'd, 
Your  child  his  guilt  with  care  conceals, 
And  pertly  talks,  and  stoutly  feels ; 
From  truth,  with  swift  declension  flies. 
To  arts,  equivocations,  lies ; 
And  sullen  broods,  with  sad  design, 
O'er  sweet  revenge  of  future  sin. 
Alone,  before  the  parents'  bar, 
His  conscience  with  himself  at  war. 
Of  pride,  and  petulance,  bereft, 
Without  a  hope,  or  refuge,  left, 
He  shrinks,  beneath  a  father's  eye. 
And  feels  his  firm  perverseness  die ; 
Reveres  the  love,  his  sighs  implore, 
And  grateful  turns,  to  sin  no  more." 

"  On  uniformity  depends 

All  government,  that  gains  its  ends. 

The  same  things  always  praise,  and  blame. 

Your  laws,  and  conduct,  be  the  same." 

"  Let  no  discouragement  deter. 
Nor  sloth  this  daily  talk  defer. 
Sloth  and  discouragement  destroy 
The  children's  weal,  the  j)arents'  joy. 
For  one,  who  labor  lothes,  we  find 
Ten  thousand  lothing  toil  of  mind, 
That  close  attention,  careful  tho't, 
"With  every  real  blessing  fraught. 
Early  the  stubborn  child  transgresses ; 
Denies  it ;  nor,  'till  forced,  confesses : 


GUIDE   TO   A   HAPPY   LIFE.  531 

The  fault,  tho'  punish'd,  he  renews; 
New  punishment  the  fault  pursues : 
His  heart  by  nature  prone  to  sin, 
Agen  he  wounds  you,  and  agen ; 
Amaz'd,  dishearten'd,  in  despair, 
To  see  so  fruitless  all  your  care. 
And  wearied,  by  such  fix'd  attention 
To  crimes,  that  suffer  no  prevention. 
Reluctant,  by  degrees,  you  yield. 
And  leave  him  master  of  the  field." 

"  Then  with  fond  hope,  that  reason's  sway 
Will  win  him  from  his  faults  away. 
For  decent  power,  alone  you  strive. 
Resigned,  if  decently  he'll  live." 

"  Vait^  hope !  by  reason's  power  alone, 
From  guilt,  no  heart  was  ever  won. 
Decent,  not  good,  may  reason  make  him  ; 
By  reason,  crimes  will  ne'er  forsake  him. 
As  weeds,  self-sown,  demand  no  toil, 
But  flourish  in  their  native  soil, 
Root  deep,  grow  high,  with  vigour  bloom. 
And  send  forth  poison,  for  perfume  ; 
So  faults,  inborn,  spontaneous  rise. 
And  daily  wax  in  strength,  and  size, 
Ripen,  with  neither  toil,  nor  care, 
And  choke  each  germ  of  virtue  there. 
Virtues,  like  plants  of  nobler  kind. 
Transferred  from  regions  more  refin'd. 
The  gardener's  careful  hand  must  sow  ; 
His  culturing  hand  must  bid  them  grow ; 


532        ROYAL  ROAD  TO  HAPPINESS;  OR 

Rains  gently  shower ;  skies  softly  shine, 
And  blessings  fall,  from  realms  divine/' 

^'  Much  time,  and  pain,  and  toil,  and  care, 

Must  virtue's  habits  plant,  and  rear  : 

Habits  alone  thro'  life  endure, 

Habits  alone  your  child  secure : 

To  these  be  all  your  labours  given  ; 

To  these,  your  fervent  prayers  to  Heaven. 

Nor  faint,  a  thousand  trials  o'er, 


THE    SMITH    BESIDE    HIS   ANVIL. 


To  see  your  pains  effect  no  more; 
Love,  duty,  interest,  bid  you  strive ; 
Contend,  and  yield  not,  while  you  live ; 
And  know,  for  all  your  labours  pass'd. 
Your  eyes  shall  see  a  crop,  at  last. 
The  smith  beside  his  anvil  stands, 
The  lump  of  silver  in  his  hands, 
A  thousand  strokes  with  patience  gives. 
And  still  unformed  the  work  perceives ; 


GUIDE   TO   A   HAPPY   LIFE.  533 

A  thousand,  and  a  thousand  more, 

Unfinish'd  leaves  it  as  before  ; 

Yet,  though,  from  each,  no  print  is  found, 

Still  toiling  on  his  steady  round, 

He  sees  the  ductile  mass  refine, 

And  in  a  beauteous  vessel  shine." 

"  Taverns,  and  shops,  and  lounging  places^ 
Vile  comrades,  gaming  tables,  races, 
Where  youth  to  vice,  and  ruin,  run. 
Teach  them,  as  pits  of  death,  to  shun. 
At  nine,  when  sounds  the  warning  bell, 
Use  them  to  bid  their  sports  farewell ; 
Health,  order,  temperance,  every  joy, 
As  blasts,  untimely  hours  destroy  ; 
At  these  dread  hours,  in  places  vile. 
Where  all  things  tempt,  betray,  defile, 
Abroad,  to  every  ill  they  roam. 
But  peace,  and  safety,  find  at  home." 

"  From  licensed  talk  their  tongues  restrain. 

And  bridle,  with  discretion's  rein  ; 

Safety,  and  peace,  reserve  affords  ; 

But  evil  hides  in  many  words. 

All  wond'rous  stories  bid  them  shun. 

And  the  pernicious  love  of  fun  ; 

In  lies,  great  stories  ever  end. 

And  fun  will  every  vice  befriend. 

What  sports  of  real  use  you  find, 

To  brace  the  form,  or  nerve  the  mind. 

Freely  indulge ;  such  sports,  as  these. 

Will  profit  youth,  as  well  as  please. 

But  from  all  arts  and  tricks  dehort, 

And  check  th'  excessive  love  of  sport. 


534  ROYAL    ROAD    TO    HAPPINESS;    OR 

All  buzzing  tales,  of  private  life, 

All  scandals,  form'd  on  household  strife, 

The  idle  chatterings  of  the  street. 


**  WHERE  YOUTH  TO   VICE,  AND    RUIN,  BUN." 

Early  forbid  them  to  repeat ; 

But  teach  them,  kindness,  praise,  and  truth. 

Alone  become  the  voice  of  youth/* 


GUIDE   TO    A    HAPPY    LIFE.  535 

"  Their  hearts  with  soft  affections  warm  ; 
Their  taste,  to  gentle  manners  form ; 
Let  manly  aims  their  bosoms  fire, 
And  sweet  civility  inspire. 
Bid  them  the  stranger  kindly  greet, 
The  friend  with  faithful  friendship  meet. 
And  charm  of  life  the  little  span, 
By  general  courtesy  to  man.'' 

"  Teach  them  to  reverence  righteous  sway, 

With  life  defend,  with  love  obey ; 

Nor  join  that  wretched  band  of  scoiSers, 

Who  rail  at  every  man  in  office. 

With  freedom's  warmth  their  souls  inspire. 

And  light  their  brave  forefathers'  fire. 

Bid  them  their  privileges  know ; 

Bid  them  with  love  of  country  glow  ; 

With  skill,  their  arms  defensive  wield, 

Nor  shun  the  duties  of  the  field." 

"  How  bless'd  this  heaven-distinguish'd  land  ! 

Where  schools  in  every  hamlet  stand ; 

Far  spread  the  beams  of  learning  bright. 

And  every  child  enjoys  the  light. 

At  school,  beneath  a  faithful  guide. 

In  teaching  skilFd,  of  morals  tried. 

And  pleas'd  the  early  mind  to  charm 

To  every  good,  from  every  harm. 

Learn  they  to  read,  to  write,  to  spell. 

And  cast  accompts,  and  learn  them  well : 

For,  on  this  microscopic  plan, 

Is  form'd  the  wise,  and  useful  man. 


536        EOYAL  ROAD  TO  HAPPINESS;  OR 

Let  him  a  taste  for  books  inspire  ; 
While  you,  to  nurse  the  young  desire, 
A  social  library  procure, 
And  open  knowledge  to  the  poor. 
This  useful  taste  imbib'd,  your  eyes 
Shall  see  a  thousand  blessings  rise. 
From  haunts,  and  comrades  vile  secure, 
Where  gilded  baits  to  vice  allure. 
No  more  your  sons  abroad  shall  roam, 
But  pleas'd,  their  evenings  spend  at  home ; 
Allurements  more  engaging  find, 
And  feast,  with  pure  delight,  the  mind. 
The  realms  of  earth,  their  tho'ts  shall  scan, 
And  learn  the  works,  and  ways,  of  man ; 
See,  from  the  savage,  to  the  sage, 
How  nations  ripen,  age  by  age; 
How  states,  and  men,  by  virtue  rise ; 
How  both  to  ruin  sink,  by  vice ; 
How  thro'  the  world's  great  prison -bounds, 
While  one  wide  clank  of  chains  resounds. 
Men  slaves,  while  angels  weep  to  see, 
Some  wise^  and  brave,  and  bless'd,  are  free. 
Thro'  moral  scenes  shall  stretch  their  sight ; 
Discern  the  bounds  of  wrong,  and  right ; 
That  lothe ;  this  love  ;  and,  pleased,  pursue 
Whate'er  from  man  to  man  is  due ; 
And,  from  the  page  of  Heaven  derive 
The  motives,  and  the  means,  to  live." 

"  Nor  think  the  scope,  or  talk,  too  great ; 
Coolly  your  leisure  moments  state ; 
These,  nicely  reckoned,  will  appear 
Enough  for  all,  that's  promised  here. 


GUIDE   TO   A    HAPPY   LIFE.  537 

Would  you  still  higher  proof  behold  ? 

Plain  facts  that  higher  proof  unfold. 

I  know,  and  tell  it  with  a  smile, 

No  narrow  list  of  men  of  toil. 

Illumed  by  no  collegiate  rays, 

And  forc'd  to  tread  in  busy  ways, 

Who  yet,  to  read,  intensely  loving. 

And  every  leisure  hour  improving. 

On  wisdom's  heights  distinguish 'd  stand. 

The  boast,  and  blessing,  of  our  land. 

This  mystery  learn  :  in  great,  or  small  things, 

'Tis  application  masters  all  things." 

"  Thus  taught,  in  every  state  of  life, 
Of  child,  of  parent,  husband,  wife, 
Theyll  wiser,  better,  happier,  prove ; 
Their  freedom  better  know,  and  love  ; 
More  pleasures  gain,  more  hearts  engage. 
And  feast  their  own  dull  hours  of  age." 

"  Use  them,  and  early  use,  to  have. 
To  earn,  and  what  they  earn,  to  save. 
From  industry,  and  prudence,  flow 
Relief  of  want,  and  balm  of  woe. 
Delightful  sleep,  enduring  wealth, 
The  purest  peace,  the  firmest  health. 
True  independence  of  our  peers, 
Support  for  sickness,  and  for  years. 
Security  from  household  strife. 
The  conscience  sweet  of  useful  life. 
Esteem  abroad,  content  at  home. 
An  easy  passage  to  the  tomb, 


538  ROYAL    ROAD    TO    HAPPINESS;    OR 

With  blessings  numberless,  that  flow 
To  neighbour,  stranger,  friend,  and  foe, 
That  man  to  man  resistless  bind, 
And  spread,  and  spread,  to  all  mankind/' 

"  Would  you  for  them  this  good  acquire, 
Prudence,  and  industry,  inspire  ; 
To  habit  bid  the  blessings  grow; 
Habits  alone  yield  good  below. 
To  these  untrain'd,  whate'er  you  give, 
Whatever  inheritance  you  leave. 
To  every  worthless  passion  given, 
And  scatter' d  to  the  winds  of  heaven, 
Will  foes,  and  strangers,  clothe,  and  feed ; 
While  your  own  children  pine  with  need, 
Their  friends,  pain'd,  pitied,  slighted,  fly. 
Forgotten  live,  and  wretched  die." 

"  In  this  New  World,  life's  changing  round. 
In  three  descents,  is  often  found. 
The  first,  firm,  busy,  plodding,  poor, 
Earns,  saves,  and  daily  swells,  his  store : 
By  farthings  first,  and  pence,  it  grows ; 
In  shillings  next,  and  pounds,  it  flows ; 
Then  spread  his  widening  farms,  abroad  ; 
His  forests  wave ;  his  harvests  nod ; 
Fattening,  his  numerous  cattle  play. 
And  debtors  dread  his  reckoning  day. 
Ambitious  then  t'  adorn  with  knowledge 
His  son,  he  places  him  at  college  ; 
And  sends,  in  smart  attire,  and  neat, 
To  travel  through  each  neighbouring  state ; 


GUIDE   TO   A   HAPPY   LIFE. 


Builds  him  a  handsome  house,  or  buys, 
Sees  him  a  gentleman,  and  dies." 


539 


"  The  second,  born  to  wealth  and  ease, 

And  taught  to  think,  converse,  and  please, 

Ambitious,  with  his  lady-wife. 

Aims  at  a  higher  walk  of  life. 

Yet,  in  those  wholesome  habits  trained, 


NEATNESS   AND  THRIFT. 


By  which  his  wealth,  and  weight,  were  gained. 
Bids  care  in  hand  with  pleasure  go. 
And  blends  economy  with  show. 
His  houses,  fences,  garden,  dress. 
The  neat  and  thrifty  man  confess. 
Improved,  but  with  improvement  plain, 
Intent  on  office,  as  on  gain. 


640  ROYAL   ROAD   TO   HAPPINESS;    OR 

Exploring,  useful  sweets  to  spy, 

To  public  life  he  turns  his  eye. 

A  townsman  first ;  a  justice  soon  ; 

A  member  of  the  house  anon  ; 

Perhaps  to  board,  or  bench,  invited, 

He  sees  the  state,  and  subjects,  righted ; 

And,  raptur'd  with  politic  life. 

Consigns  his  children  to  his  wife. 

Of  household  cares  amid  the  round. 

For  her,  too  hard  the  task  is  found. 

At  first  she  struggles,  and  contends ; 

Then  doubts,  desponds,  laments,  and  bends ; 

Her  sons  pursue  the  sad  defeat. 

And  shout  their  victory  complete ; 

Eejoicing,  see  their  father  roam. 

And  riot,  rake,  and  reign,  at  home. 

Too  late  he  sees,  and  sees  to  mourn. 

His  race  of  every  hope  forlorn, 

Abroad,  for  comfort,  turns  his  eyes. 

Bewails  his  dire  mistakes,  and  dies." 

"  His  heir,  train 'd  only  to  enjoy, 
Untaught  his  mind,  or  hands,  t'  employ, 
Conscious  of  wealth  enough  for  life. 
With  business,  care,  and  worth,  at  strife. 
By  prudence,  conscience,  unrestrain'd, 
And  none,  but  pleasure's  habits,  gain'd. 
Whirls  on  the  wild  career  of  sense. 
Nor  danger  marks,  nor  heeds  expense. 
Soon  ended  is  the  giddy  round  ; 
And  soon  the  fatal  goal  is  found. 
His  lands,  secured  for  borrow'd  gold. 
His  houses,  horses,  herds,  are  sold. 


GUIDE   TO   A   HAPPY   LIFE.  541 

And  now,  no  more  for  wealth  respected, 
He  sinks,  by  all  his  friends  neglected  ; 
Friends,  who,  before,  his  vices  flatter'd. 
And  liv'd  upon  the  loaves  he  scattered. 
Unacted  every  worthy  part. 
And  pining  with  a  broken  heart, 
To  dirtiest  company  he  flies. 
Lies,  gambles,  turns  a  sot,  and  dies. 
His  children,  born  to  fairer  doom. 
In  rags,  pursue  him  to  the  tomb." 

"  Apprenticed  then  to  masters  stern. 

Some  real  good  the  orphans  learn  ; 

Are  bred  to  toil,  and  hardy  fare. 

And  grow  to  usefulness,  and  care ; 

And,  following  their  great-grandsire's  plan, 

Each  slow  becomes  a  useful  man." 

"  Such  here  is  life's  swift-circling  round ; 
So  soon  are  all  its  changes  found. 
Would  you  prevent  th'  allotment  hard, 
And  fortune's  rapid  whirl  retard. 
In  all  your  race,  industrious  care 
Attentive  plant,  and  faithful  rear ; 
With  life,  th'  important  task  begin, 
Nor  but  with  life,  the  task  resign  ; 
To  habit,  bid  the  blessings  grow. 
Habits  alone  yield  good  below." 

"  But,  to  complete  the  bless'd  design, 
Both  parents  must  their  efforts  join  ; 
With  kind  regard,  each  other  treat : 
In  every  plan,  harmonious  meet ; 


542  ROYAL   EOAD   TO    HAPPINESS;    OR 

The  conduct  each  of  each  approve  ; 
Nor  strive,  but  in  the  strife  of  love. 
What  one  commands,  let  both  require  ; 
In  counsels,  smiles,  and  frowns,  conspire ; 
Alike  oppose  ;  alike  befriend  ; 
And  each  the  other's  choice  commend. 
In  sweetest  union  thus  conjoined. 
And  one  the  life,  as  one  the  mind, 
Your  children  cheerful  will  obey, 
And  reverence  undivided  pay ; 
The  daily  task  be  lightly  done. 
And  half  the  household  troubles  gone  : 
While  jars  domestic  weal  destroy, 
And  wither  every  hope  of  joy." 


WELL   KEPT    FENCE   AXD    BARN. 


"  Meantime,  let  peace  around  you  rest, 
Nor  feuds  good  neighbourhood  molest. 
Your  neighbour's  crops  with  justice  eye, 
Nor  let  his  hopes  by  trespass  die. 
Your  fence  repair,  your  herds  repel ; 
Much  virtue's  found  in  fencing  well. 
With  care  his  reputation  guard ; 
Sweet  friendship  will  that  care  reward. 


f  OF  THI 

f  "CTNIVEH., 
GUIDE   TO   A   HAPPY   LIFE.  043 

No  idle  tattler  e'er  receive  ; 
No  storied  scandal  e'er  believe  : 
What's  good,  and  kind,  alone  report ; 
Tell  nothing,  which  can  others  hurt : 
Oblige,  lend,  borrow — freely  all — 
Rejoice  not  in  another's  fall: 
When  others  need,  assistance  lend; 
Are  others  sick  ?  their  calls  attend ; 
Their  visits  hospitably  greet, 
And  pay,  with  cheerful  kindness  sweet. 
These  things,  or  I  mistake,  will  form, 
And  keep  the  heart  of  friendship  warm." 

"  But  should  contentions  rise,  and  grudges. 
Which  call  for  arbitrating  judges, 
Still  shun  the  law,  that  gulph  of  woe. 
Whose  waves  without  a  bottom  flow : 
That  gulph,  by  storms  forever  tossed. 
Where  all,  that's  once  afloat,  is  lost ; 
Where  friends,  embark'd,  are  friends  no  more, 
And  neither  finds  a  peaceful  shore : 
While  thousand  wrecks,  as  warnings  lie, 
The  victims  of  an  angry  sky." 

"  Each  cause  let  mutual  friends  decide, 
With  common-sense  alone  to  guide  : 
If  right,  in  silent  peace  be  glad; 
If  wrong,  be  neither  sour,  nor  sad : 
As  oft  you'll  find  full  justice  done. 
As  when  thro'  twenty  terms  you've  run ; 
And  when,  in  travel,  fees,  and  cost. 
Far  more  than  can  be  won,  is  lost." 


544  ROYAL   ROAD   TO   HAPPINESS;    OR 

"Learn,  this  conclusion  whence  I  draw. 

Mark  what  estates  are  spent  in  law ! 

See  men  litigious  business  fly, 

And  loungers  live,  and  beggars  die ! 

What  anger,  hatred,  malice  fell. 

And  fierce  revenge  their  bosoms  swell ! 

What  frauds,  subornings,  tamperings  rise  ! 

What  slanders  foul !  what  shameful  lies  ! 

What  perjuries,  blackening  many  a  tongue  ! 

And  what  immensity  of  wrong  ! 

Where  peace,  and  kindness,  dwelt  before,. 

See  peace,  and  kindness,  dwell  no  more ! 

Ills  to  good  offices  succeed. 

And  neighbours  bid  each  other  bleed  !'' 

"  Esop,  the  merry  Phrygian  sage. 

Worth  half  the  wise-men  of  his  age, 

Has  left  to  litigants  a  story. 

Which,  with  your  leave.  111  set  before  you/' 

"  ^  The  bear,  and  lion,  on  the  lawn, 

Once  found  the  carcase  of  a  fawn. 

Both  claim'd  the  dainty;  neither  gave  it; 

But  each  swore  roundly  he  would  have  it. 

They  growl' d  ;  they  fought ;  but  fought  in  vain  ; 

For  neither  could  the  prize  obtain ; 

And,  while,  to  breathe,  they  both  retreated, 

The  lawyer  fox,  came  in,  and  eat  it.' " 

"  And  would  you  useful  live,  and  bless'd, 
Parochial  heats,  and  jars,  detest. 
Like  you,  their  interests  others  feel ; 
Have  pride,  and  passions,  warmth,  and  will. 


GUIDE   TO   A   HAPPY   LIFE.  545 

Those  interests  clash  ;  those  wills  contend ; 
And  some,  where  all  have  votes,  must  bend. 
A  yielding  spirit  hence  maintain ; 
Let  all  concede,  that  all  may  gain  : 
Hence,  when  fierce  heat  the  mass  inspires, 
And  Party  blows  her  angry  fires, 
For  weeks,  or  months,  or  years,  postpone 
What,  prudence  tells  you,  must  be  done ; 
Time  will  command  the  flames  to  cease, 
And  party  soften  into  peace." 

Thus  spoke  the  sage.     The  crowd  around. 
Applauding,  heard  the  grateful  sound : 
Each,  deeply  musing,  homeward  went, 
T'  amend  his  future  life  intent ; 
And,  pondering  past  delays,  with  sorrow, 
Resolv'd,  he  would  begin,  to-morrow. 


8S 


OF  THB 

CTNIVERSITY 


«.^Mmfi 


evn 


'f^Mi^fii 


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